Alain
How to say it: uh-LAN · /əˈlæn/
French form of Alan, from Breton possibly meaning 'little rock' or 'handsome' - classic in France.
Alain was the 2,205th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 44 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1980s, its births are down about 21% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #2,575 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #2,205 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 44 |
| Share of births | 1 in 75,348 |
| Peak decade | 1980s |
| Change over 10 years | −21% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #2,575 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,110 among boys’ names, 20 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Alain peaked in the 1980s.
What goes with it
Parents who love Alain also love
Nicknames
- Al
- Lain
Honouring a Alain in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Alain is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #1,110 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Alain
- Alain Delon (1935–2024)French actor
- Alain Prost (born 1955)French racing driver
- Alain Aspect (born 1947)French physicist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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