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Home › Baby Names Directory › Alanis

Alanis

♀ Girl

Pronounced uh-LAN-ihs /ə.ˈlæn.ɪs/Medium

Meaning: Feminine elaboration of Alan, from a Celtic/Breton root often glossed as 'little rock' or 'handsome'. Popularized by singer Alanis Morissette.Medium

In 30 seconds: Alanis is a feminine elaboration of Alan, from a Celtic and Breton root often read as 'little rock' or 'handsome'. The exact meaning is disputed, and the name was popularized by singer Alanis Morissette.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Spanish
MeaningFeminine elaboration of Alan, from a Celtic/Breton root often glossed as 'little rock' or 'handsome'. Popularized by singer Alanis Morissette.
U.S. rank (2025)#2459 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births72 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2013
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,393

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201319952025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Alanis grew as a feminine form of Alan, a name from a Celtic and Breton root whose meaning is genuinely uncertain, glossed variously as 'little rock' or 'handsome'. Because that older sense is disputed, it is fairest to say Alan's exact origin is not settled. Canadian-American singer Alanis Morissette, of Jagged Little Pill, did the most to bring the name into wide use.

The added '-is' ending gives Alanis a distinctive lilt next to softer cousins like Alana and Alanna. Those related forms all trace back to the same unsettled Alan root, so families have a spread of sounds to pick from.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Alanis is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Alanis — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

AlainaAlanaAlannaAlannahAlayna

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

  • ★Alanis Morissette (1974–present)
    Canadian-American singer-songwriter known for the album Jagged Little Pill (1995).

If you like Alanis…

Alana— A feminine form of Alan from the same Celtic root as Alanis.
Alanna— A variation of the same Alan-based name with a doubled 'n'.
Alayna— A respelled feminine form sharing Alanis's Alan origin.
Alaina— Another variation built on the same disputed Alan root.
Alannah— A softened variation of the Alan-derived family Alanis belongs to.

Explore names like Alanis

By thememodernenglishspanish
By meaningBeautyRock / Stone

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Alanis mean?

Alanis is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Alanis?

It's commonly said uh-LAN-ihs /ə.ˈlæn.ɪs/.

Is Alanis a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Alanis is used as a girl name.

How popular is Alanis?

In 2024, Alanis ranked #2063 in the U.S. for girls, with 93 births recorded.

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