Rising since 2011, #6,803 for boys today.
Popularity of Altan since 2009
Babies named Altan per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2016, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Altan's real moment was 2024.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 6 |
| 2010s | 82 |
| 2020s | 57 |
Meaning & origin
Altan is a Turkish name meaning 'red dawn', first recorded in the United States in 2009. Since 2011, its usage has been rising steadily, and it reached its peak rank of 6,803 in 2025. While still very uncommon with roughly 1 in 142,340 newborns receiving the name, its upward trajectory suggests growing awareness among parents seeking distinctive, culturally rooted names. The name has primarily appeared in states with sizeable Turkish-American communities, though it has not yet charted in top state lists. Altan joins a trend of short, strong-sounding names from Turkish and other Turkic languages entering the American naming pool. Its appeal lies in its vivid meaning and straightforward pronunciation, making it accessible to diverse families.
Altan is a Turkish name meaning 'red dawn' or 'red sunrise', composed of 'al' (red) and 'tan' (dawn). It has been used as a masculine given name in Turkey and among Turkish communities abroad. Its adoption in other countries, including the United States, is relatively recent, with first recorded use in 2009. The name also appears as a Mongolian given name meaning 'golden', but the Turkish origin is more directly relevant to its use in the data.
“Altan” around the world
Where Altan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Al, Tan
Sibling names for Altan
Names that share Altan's style, for a brother or sister.
