Alan vs Ayman
Alan and Aymancompared 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, Alan was ranked #232 and Ayman #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Ayman #233 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #274 and Ayman #276 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Ayman #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Ayman #535 among boys in Scotland.
Alan and Ayman over time
Alan and Ayman appear together in 3 published lists, across 80 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ayman 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.
Alan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Ayman 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Ayman changed places 10 times in Norway · Boys between 1971 and 2025, ending at #274 and #276.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Ayman were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 36 years, from 1971 to 2025, ending at #274 and #276.
List by list
Norway · Boys36 shared years, 1971–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Ayman in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alan #184 in 2015, Ayman #236 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #274, Ayman #276.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Ayman in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Ayman #233 in 2024.
The order changed in 2022: Ayman moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #352 and #407; by 2022 that had become #472 and #366.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Ayman #233.
Republic of Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 2001–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Ayman in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #59 in 2001, Ayman #302 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Ayman #509.
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 | Alan | Ayman |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Uncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæl.ən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Norway · Boys #276 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| 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)); Ayman does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Ayman both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Ayman doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
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 #274 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Ayman
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #580 among boys in Norway in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #233 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #276 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys