Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Alan - ?? off the wall or retro and will seem cool?

81 replies

NeverKnowinglyUnderstood · 09/06/2013 00:09

discuss

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
PurpleThing · 09/06/2013 00:13

Alan Bennett hates his name and believes it has held him back, made him feel inadequate and timid as an Alan could never do xyz.

Ham69 · 09/06/2013 00:13

When I talk to my Geordie friends (in their mid thirties), it seems that every other male of their age group is called Alan.
I wouldn't say it was off the wall or reto. Just dull and dated.

NotAnotherPackedLunch · 09/06/2013 00:16

Allan or Allen sound the same, but somehow look less grey.

There are quite a few in my parent's circle of friends...

JazzAnnNonMouse · 09/06/2013 00:50

60 year old man

Alisvolatpropiis · 09/06/2013 01:50

It's a bland name.

Allan/Allen are surnames and despite sounding the same are apparently incapable of bridging the surname/first name gap.

squoosh · 09/06/2013 02:13

Bland and inoffensive.

squoosh · 09/06/2013 02:14

Isambard is off the wall.

Cliff is retro.

ladymia · 09/06/2013 05:46

It's in the Wayne category

HowlerMonkeyBelievesInAllan · 09/06/2013 05:53

Praise be to Al (l) an.

Bearandcub · 09/06/2013 05:54

Try again

Vatta · 09/06/2013 06:21

Um....do you know that "Alan" is very widely used as a word for anal sex? Eg on a lot of Internet forums or on work emails where the word anal might get caught by firewalls or picked up by IT, people type Alan instead.

I'm afraid to most of my friends the name Alan would be hilarious for that reason.

bleedingheart · 09/06/2013 06:34

I can't imagine a cute baby and toddler or cool teen being called Alan. Dull and associated with Mr Carr. Not what a child wants.

Artichook · 09/06/2013 08:46

Awful. I wanted to honour a dear deceased relative by naming my son after him but he was Alan and its just so ugly and dull that I could not do it.

AnneEyhtMeyer · 09/06/2013 08:57

I know a baby Alan. Everyone is stunned when they hear the name.

Perseis · 09/06/2013 08:59

I think Alan is fine. I work with an Alan, he is extremely successful. I've never thought of it as a retro or inadequate name.

lottiegarbanzo · 09/06/2013 09:01

No, none of those. Just bland and dull.

comelywenchlywoo · 09/06/2013 09:02

A few Alans in my family they're in their 40's and 20's. I like it, but I like my family members, so it goes hand in hand with that really doesn't it. Not sure I'd consider it for a baby, maybe.

dontmixthecolours · 09/06/2013 09:02

DH says it's 'mega cool'. not that it's his name, oh no

Mamafratelli · 09/06/2013 09:08

Alex much better. Alan is a middle aged bloke with bad breath. What about David?

Back2Two · 09/06/2013 09:11

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns

MinnieBar · 09/06/2013 09:14

at Alan=anal. Well that'll make it a bit less bland?

Unless it was the name of a very dear friend or family member, I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole, sorry.

TiggerWearsATriteSmile · 09/06/2013 09:20

I know a 6 year old and a 2 year old Alan.
They are both lovely and I don't think the name is bland or boring at all.

MatersMate · 09/06/2013 09:22

Oh god it's hideous!! Like calling a baby Roy or Derrick, sorry.

RoooneyMara · 09/06/2013 09:27

No it's terrible.