Alen is a male given name used predominantly in Armenia, Croatia, and Slovenia. It is a form of Alan 1, a name of uncertain but ancient origins.Etymology and HistoryThe ultimate origin of Alan is debated. Often it is connected with the Brythonic element al meaning "rock," giving the sense of "little rock." Another theory links it to the Alans, an Iranian nomadic people who migrated into Europe in late antiquity. The name was established in Brittany by the 6th century and was borne by several medieval dukes of Brittany and also by a Breton saint.Distribution and PopularityThe spelling Alen is especially common in the Balkans, particularly among Bosniaks and Croats, where it coexists with a feminine variant Alena. It carries the same range of historical meanings—"little rock," "handsome," or "harmony"—that are attributed to Allan, its English cognate.Notable BearersAlen Bokšić (born 1970), Croatian football striker who played for Olympique de Marseille and JuventusAlen Babajic Uzelac, American restaurateur and former publisherAlen Avdić (born 1977), Bosnian poet and writerThe name appears in various languages in different spellings, such as French Alain and English Allan.