Alanna
ah-LAN-ah · 3 syllables
♀ Female ◎ Irish Gaelic / Celtic ◈ 3 syllables
"Beautiful darling / rock, harmony"

From Irish Gaelic / Celtic

Alanna means dear child or precious — from the Irish Gaelic a leanbh (O child). In Irish, a lanna is a term of endearment: darling, precious one. Tamora Pierce's Alanna is fantasy literature's most beloved female knight. Two syllables of Irish endearment, Gaelic tenderness, and the girl who disguised herself as a boy to become a warrior.

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Alanna at a glance
MeaningBeautiful darling / rock, harmony
OriginIrish Gaelic / Celtic
GenderFemale
Syllables3
NumerologyLife Path 7
US Rank (today)#513
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Why parents love Alanna
  • Tamora Pierce's Alanna is fantasy's most beloved female knight.
  • The meaning dear child/precious is tenderly Irish.
  • Three syllables with a gentle, Celtic sound: ah-LAN-ah.
  • A lanna is an Irish term of endearment — darling.
  • Lana and Anna are both embedded.
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The vibe of Alanna
dear childpreciousIrisha lannaendearmentTamora Piercefemale knightCeltic
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Origin & history of Alanna
Irish Gaelic a leanbh (O child) or a lanna (darling) → Alanna
1
Irish Gaelic / Celtic roots
Alanna comes from the Irish Gaelic meaning dear child or precious one. In Irish, a lanna is a term of endearment. Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness quartet features Alanna, who disguises herself as a boy to train as a knight — one of fantasy literature's most beloved heroines.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Irish Gaelic origin; Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness (1983).
3
Today
Alanna remains a beloved choice, ranking #513 in the US. 25,913 babies have been named Alanna since 1930.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Alanna?
2024 peak year
Alanna has settled into a steady rhythm — neither rising sharply nor fading, holding a consistent place in U.S. birth records. It currently ranks around #513, with about 625 babies named Alanna each year. In 2024, 1,096 babies received the name (ranked #289). Total registrations across all years since 1880: roughly 25,913.
Year-by-year registrations 1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
1,096 Babies named in peak year
(ranked #289)
625 Avg. per year
(last decade)
6,250 Total registrations
last 10 years
25,913 All-time total
(since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #513) Popular
→ Holding steady in recent years
📊 Check all names registered in the United States →
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Numerology of Alanna
7
Life path number
The Seeker
Wisdom, introspection and spiritual depth.

Alanna's Life Path 6 is the nurturer's number — precious nurturing. People named Alanna tend to be tender, warrior-hearted, and gifted at being both darling and deadly.

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Both darling and deadly
✦
Precious warrior
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Irish endearment
◎
Disguised knight
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Lioness-level courage
A1
L3
A1
N5
N5
A1
Sum: 16 → Life path 7
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Personality of Alanna
🔍
Curious & intellectual
Always questioning, always learning.
📚
Deep thinker
Surface answers don't satisfy them.
🌙
Reflective & wise
They think before they speak. Worth hearing.
🦋
Beautifully independent
Their solitude is purposeful, not lonely.
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Famous people named Alanna

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Names that sound like Alanna

If you love Alanna, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.

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Names that combine with Alanna

Sibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Alanna.

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Middle names for Alanna

The right middle name turns Alanna into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.

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Numerology life path calculator

Enter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.

First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number

How we calculated this
Alanna is a beautiful choice.
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