Pronunciation
A-la-na
Meaning
Dear child, associated with the Irish expression a leanbh
Alternate spellings
Alanna
Fun fact
The Irish connection is a term of endearment for a child. Leanbh means child, and a leanbh can be understood as dear child or my darling. Over time that sound became Alana. I think it's such a sweet meaning!
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Alana, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | #247 |
| 2024 | 18 | #232 |
| 2023 | 13 | #296 |
| 2022 | 17 | #254 |
| 2021 | 15 | #284 |
| 2020 | 20 | #220 |
| 2019 | 24 | #201 |
| 2018 | 22 | #218 |
| 2017 | 14 | #316 |
| 2016 | 11 | #390 |
| 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 | #338 |
| 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 |
| 1979 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1976 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1975 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1969 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1966 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.