Alain
Boy name · #2849 in 2025 · Uniqueness 78/100
Alain ranks #2849 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 44 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2300, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 40,909 boys born in 2025 was named Alain.
The 83-year story
Alain first appears in the Social Security records in 1942, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1988, when 92 boys were named Alain — good for #1023 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Alain per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Alain against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Alain in class?
Alain scores 78 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Alain will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Alain is most common
Geography matters for names, and Alain is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Alains were TX (11), FL (10), CA (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Alain
Statistically, parents drawn to Alain tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Efrain, Fermin, Antwan, Tyron, and Anibal.
EfrainFerminAntwanTyronAnibalJaminSerafinAmmon
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Alain | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 44 | #2833 |
| 2024 | 37 | #3216 |
| 2023 | 51 | #2575 |
| 2022 | 49 | #2675 |
| 2021 | 47 | #2695 |
| 2020 | 48 | #2617 |
| 2019 | 49 | #2626 |
| 2018 | 61 | #2230 |
| 2017 | 55 | #2345 |
| 2016 | 55 | #2365 |
| 2015 | 57 | #2300 |
| 2014 | 51 | #2461 |
| 2013 | 74 | #1903 |
| 2012 | 64 | #2104 |
| 2011 | 63 | #2105 |
| 2010 | 54 | #2354 |
| 2009 | 57 | #2287 |
| 2008 | 61 | #2186 |
| 2007 | 68 | #2034 |
| 2006 | 73 | #1856 |
| 2005 | 72 | #1801 |
| 2004 | 60 | #1989 |
| 2003 | 81 | #1561 |
| 2002 | 63 | #1817 |
| 2001 | 67 | #1710 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Alain a popular boy name?
Alain ranked #2849 among boys in 2025 with 44 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2300.
When was the name Alain most popular?
Alain peaked in 1988, when 92 American boys received the name (ranked #1023 that year). Since 1988 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Alain?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 40,909 newborn American boys was named Alain. It scores 78/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.