Abigail vs Alana
Abigail and Alanacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2011, Abigail was ranked #27 and Alana #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1997, Abigail was ranked #63 and Alana #76 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #80 and Alana #227 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #102 and Alana #431 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #115 and Alana #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #171 and Alana #244 among girls in England and Wales.
Abigail and Alana over time
Abigail and Alana appear together in 4 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Abigail held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Alana in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Alana reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Abigail in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Abigail moved ahead of Alana in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #95 and #75 the year before became #71 and #83.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Abigail and Alana changed places 10 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1980 and 2025, ending at #115 and #247.
- Longest-running competitions
Abigail and Alana were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #171 and #244.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1980–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Alana in 11.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #36 in 2008, Alana #89 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #115, Alana #247.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Alana in 0.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #19 in 2000, Alana #172 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #171, Alana #244.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Alana in 0.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #29 in 2005, Alana #67 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #80, Alana #227.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 2002–2011
Abigail held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Alana in 2.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #24 in 2010, Alana #74 in 2006.
The order changed in 2004: Abigail moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #95 and #75; by 2004 that had become #71 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Abigail #27, Alana #91.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Abigail | Alana |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #244 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Abigail and Alana both have 3 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Abigail
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #303 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #171 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Alana
Popularity journey
First recorded1980
First recorded at #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1980 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1980–1997
Highest recorded position: #49 among girls in New Zealand, in 1983 (recorded 1980–1997).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #244 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls