Alan vs Bailey

Alan and Baileycompared 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.

England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Bailey #249 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Bailey #268 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Bailey #312 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #319 and Bailey #516 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Alan and Bailey over time

Alan and Bailey appear together in 3 published lists, across 78 years of shared records. Bailey held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alan in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 2 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 Bailey 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.

One moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Bailey moved ahead of Alan in England and Wales · Boys — #163 and #263 the year before became #179 and #134.
Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Bailey changed places 9 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2023, ending at #348 and #312.
Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Alan and Bailey averaged 52.8 places apart, ending at #348 and #312.

List by list

England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Bailey in 28.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Bailey #62 in 2005.
The order changed in 1997: Bailey moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #163 and #263; by 1997 that had become #179 and #134.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Bailey #249.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1997–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Bailey in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Bailey #83 in 2002.
The order changed in 2022: Bailey moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #266 and #374; by 2022 that had become #352 and #221.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #348, Bailey #312.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1998–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Bailey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #46 in 1998, Bailey #232 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #319, Bailey #516.

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 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
Alan vs Noel
Alan and Noel 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 · Noel · 74 shared years, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries

Other comparisons involving Bailey

Pairs where Bailey shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Jack vs Bailey
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Jack #1 in 2003, Bailey #23 in 2004.
Jack · Bailey · 19 shared years, 1996–2014 · Peaked in the same years
See the 2004 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Mason vs Bailey
In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Mason moved into the top 50 at #27 in 2011 as Bailey fell out of it to #63, having been #47 the year before.
Mason · Bailey · 11 shared years, 2003–2014 · One took the other's place near the top
See the 2011 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Hunter vs Bailey
In New Zealand · Boys, Hunter moved into the top 50 at #36 in 2005 as Bailey fell out of it to #67, having been #47 the year before.
Hunter · Bailey · 10 shared years, 1999–2008 · One took the other's place near the top
See the 2005 New Zealand ranking
Mitchell vs Bailey
In New Zealand · Boys, Bailey moved into the top 50 at #36 in 2003 as Mitchell fell out of it to #61, having been #36 the year before.
Mitchell · Bailey · 11 shared years, 1996–2006 · One took the other's place near the top
See the 2003 New Zealand ranking

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alan, Bailey
Field	Alan	Bailey
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	AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observation	Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)	Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)	90/100	Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)	95/100	88/100
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)); Bailey does not have one recorded yet.
Alan and Bailey both have 2 syllables.
A meaning is recorded for Alan; Bailey doesn't have one written yet.
Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

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

Bailey

Popularity journey

First recorded1996
First recorded at #848 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2014
Highest recorded position: #23 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2004 (recorded 1996–2014).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls