Adnan vs Alan
Adnan and Alancompared 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, Adnan was ranked #676 and Alan #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Adnan was ranked #335 and Alan #247 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Adnan was ranked #585 and Alan #539 among boys in England and Wales.
Adnan and Alan over time
Adnan and Alan appear together in 2 published lists, across 88 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Adnan in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Adnan and Alan changed places 16 times in Norway · Boys between 1954 and 2023, ending at #335 and #247.
- Longest-running competitions
Adnan and Alan were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #585 and #539.
List by list
Norway · Boys58 shared years, 1954–2023
Adnan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Alan in 31.
Highest recorded here: Adnan #225 in 1984, Alan #184 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Adnan #335, Alan #247.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Adnan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Alan in 30.
Highest recorded here: Adnan #337 in 2002, Alan #163 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adnan #585, Alan #539.
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 Alan
Pairs where Alan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Gregory vs Alan
Gregory and Alan both fell over the same years in 3 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Gregory · Alan · 72 shared years, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Alan vs Ian
Alan and Ian both fell over the same years in 3 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Alan · Ian · 74 shared years, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Alan vs Keith
Alan and Keith both fell over the same years in 3 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Alan · Keith · 71 shared years, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Kevin vs Alan
Kevin and Alan both fell over the same years in 3 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Kevin · Alan · 74 shared years, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Side by side
| Field | Adnan | Alan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Exact meaning uncertain — possibly Brythonic for 'little rock', or from the tribal name of the Alans, an Iranian people who migrated into Europe in the 4th-5th centuries. Used in Brittany from at least the 6th century, brought to England by Breton settlers after the Norman Conquest. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Uncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈæl.ən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #585 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alan has a recorded origin (Uncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal)); Adnan does not have one recorded yet.
- Adnan and Alan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Adnan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Adnan
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #405 among boys in Norway in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2023
Highest recorded position: #225 among boys in Norway, in 1984 (recorded 1954–2023).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #585 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Alan
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #253 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #539 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys