Alana
Say it: a-LAH-na
GirlMeans a feminine form of Alan, whose meaning is uncertain5 letters3 syllables
#247
in Ireland (2025)
#249 with spellings combined
17
babies in 2025
#89
best rank (2004)
1,151
babies since 1980
Down 69
10-year rank change
Alana through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | #249 |
| 2024 | 18 | #235 |
| 2023 | 13 | #295 |
| 2022 | 17 | #257 |
| 2021 | 15 | #287 |
| 2020 | 20 | #222 |
| 2019 | 24 | #203 |
| 2018 | 22 | #219 |
| 2017 | 14 | #316 |
| 2016 | 11 | #392 |
| 2015 | 31 | #180 |
| 2014 | 24 | #219 |
| 2013 | 30 | #193 |
| 2012 | 34 | #172 |
| 2011 | 37 | #162 |
| 2010 | 40 | #153 |
| 2009 | 38 | #161 |
| 2008 | 43 | #141 |
| 2007 | 42 | #144 |
| 2006 | 60 | #94 |
| 2005 | 40 | #123 |
| 2004 | 63 | #89 |
| 2003 | 53 | #94 |
| 2002 | 49 | #101 |
| 2001 | 50 | #96 |
| 2000 | 31 | #132 |
| 1999 | 40 | #100 |
| 1998 | 27 | #136 |
| 1997 | 44 | #117 |
| 1996 | 31 | #160 |
| 1995 | 20 | #196 |
| 1994 | 19 | #206 |
| 1993 | 14 | #254 |
| 1992 | 8 | #339 |
| 1991 | 14 | #250 |
| 1990 | 8 | #336 |
| 1989 | 7 | #353 |
| 1988 | 7 | #359 |
| 1987 | 11 | #296 |
| 1986 | 6 | #388 |
| 1985 | 13 | #267 |
| 1984 | 15 | #252 |
| 1983 | 10 | #313 |
| 1982 | 9 | #333 |
| 1981 | 7 | #363 |
| 1980 | 5 | #432 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Alana mean?
A feminine form of Alan, whose meaning is uncertain
A modern feminine form of Alan, made by adding -a.
Say it right
aLAHna
Many people say a-LAN-a, with the a of "Alan".
The story of Alana
Alana is a feminine form of Alan, made by adding -a. It has been in regular use only since the twentieth century. Alan is an old name found in Brittany, Scotland and Ireland, but its meaning is not certain, so the same is true of Alana. It has several spellings, including Alanna and Alannah.
In Ireland it first reached the CSO list in 1980. It rose steadily and had its best year in 2004, with 63 girls and a place at number 89. In Northern Ireland it did even better, reaching number 67 in 2001.
The CSO counts Alannah and the other spellings separately, so Alana’s own figures are only part of the story. In 2025, 17 girls were named Alana.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Alana (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Alanna
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Alana | 17 | 1,151 |
In Northern Ireland
#259 in 2025 with 6 babies. Best rank #67 (2001); 421 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.