Anderson vs Alan

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Anderson

Boy #357 Most Popular 3 Syllables

"son of Andrew (manly)"

Origin: Scottish/Scandinavian patronymic

American Scottish Scandinavian

✓ All Clear

Boy #167 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"handsome"

Origin: Celtic

English Scottish French Breton

✓ All Clear

Anderson Rank #357

Alan Rank #167

Alan is more popular, ranked #167 vs #357 for Anderson.

Is Anderson or Alan more popular?

Alan is more popular, ranked #167 compared to Anderson at #357 in the United States.

What do Anderson and Alan mean?

Anderson means "son of Andrew (manly)" (Scottish/Scandinavian patronymic origin). Alan means "handsome" (Celtic origin).

Are Anderson and Alan boy or girl names?

Anderson is primarily a boy name. Alan is primarily a boy name.