Alanna is a feminine form of Alan, a Celtic name of uncertain meaning that is usually explained as "little rock" or "handsome"; in Ireland it is also linked to the endearment a leanbh, "my child". Its softer sound and long -anna ending match Brianna, Gianna and Alana, and the double-n spelling has recently pulled ahead. Alanna has been in the US top 1000 all century, hovered around number 500 for most of the 2010s and jumped from number 457 in 2023 to number 280 in 2025, its highest rank in this period.