Adam vs Alistair
Adam and Alistaircompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Adam was ranked #20 and Alistair #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Adam was ranked #24 and Alistair #365 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Adam was ranked #26 and Alistair #517 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Adam was ranked #42 and Alistair #246 among boys in Scotland.
Adam and Alistair over time
Adam and Alistair appear together in 3 published lists, across 70 years of shared records. Adam held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alistair in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alistair reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Adam in none. 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 27 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Alistair fell — from #196 and #291 in 1969 to #20 and #509 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Adam and Alistair were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #26 and #517.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Adam #16 in 1996, Alistair #133 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Adam held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Alistair in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #16 in 1996, Alistair #133 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adam #26, Alistair #517.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1969–2025
Adam held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Alistair in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #3 in 2005, Alistair #245 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adam #20, Alistair #509.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1997–2019
Adam held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Alistair in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #3 in 2001, Alistair #179 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Adam #24, Alistair #365.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Adam
Pairs where Adam shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Oliver vs Adam
Over 75 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Oliver rose about as far as Adam fell — from #23 and #16 in 1996 to #6 and #26 in 2025.
Oliver · Adam · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Adam vs Einar
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Einar fell — from #380 and #28 in 1952 to #29 and #57 in 2025.
Adam · Einar · 73 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Adam vs Erik
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Erik fell — from #380 and #31 in 1952 to #29 and #64 in 2025.
Adam · Erik · 73 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Adam vs Espen
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Espen fell — from #380 and #249 in 1952 to #29 and #430 in 2025.
Adam · Espen · 73 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Adam | Alistair |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally understood as the Hebrew word for 'man', with a wordplay connection in Genesis to 'ground/earth', since Adam is described as formed from earth. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈædəm/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #20 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adam has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Alistair does not have one recorded yet.
- Adam has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Alistair.
- A meaning is recorded for Adam; Alistair doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Adam
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #380 among boys in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #26 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Alistair
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #97 among boys in New Zealand in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1956–1964
Highest recorded position: #87 among boys in New Zealand, in 1958 (recorded 1956–1964).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #517 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys