ENGLISH
REFERENCE

alan

n. countable
A1 Beginner US //ˈæɫən// alan Archaic

n. a common name for a man. It is a traditional name used in many English-speaking countries.

n. a masculine given name of Celtic origin, common in the United Kingdom and France. It is a proper noun and is always capitalized.


SIMPLE

Alan is my neighbor and he is very friendly.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager, Alan, will be leading the meeting this afternoon to discuss the new budget.

COMPLEX

While the name Alan has seen a decline in popularity among newborns recently, it remains a staple of mid-century naming conventions across the British Isles.

Etymology 1

From Old Breton Alan, name of early Breton saints, of disputed origin and meaning; brought to England by Normans. It may have been the name of a Celtic deity, the brother of Bran, Welsh Alawn, Alun. As an early Irish name, perhaps connected with ail (“noble”). Compare French Alain.

Etymology 2

From Latin Alānī, from Ancient Greek Ἀλανοί (Alanoí), from Proto-Sarmatian *Allān.

Usage

As a proper noun, it is always capitalized and typically used without an article unless referring to a specific person among others of the same name.

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