Alan vs Barry
Alan and Barrycompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1972, Alan was ranked #69 and Barry #73 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1973, Alan was ranked #91 and Barry #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Barry #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Alan was ranked #352 and Barry #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Barry #3254 among boys in England and Wales.
Alan and Barry over time
Alan and Barry appear together in 5 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Barry 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2007, Alan moved ahead of Barry in Northern Ireland · Boys — #199 and #167 the year before became #159 and #276.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Barry changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2022, ending at #352 and #414.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alan and Barry averaged 8.2 places apart, ending at #91 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Barry were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #232 and #402.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alan #163 in 1996, Barry #441 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Barry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #9 in 1975, Barry #17 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Barry #402.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Barry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Barry #441 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Barry #3254.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1952–1973
Alan held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Barry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #27 in 1953, Barry #30 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Alan #91, Barry #97.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2022
Alan held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Barry in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Barry #90 in 1997.
The order changed in 2007: Alan moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #199 and #167; by 2007 that had become #159 and #276.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alan #352, Barry #414.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1954–1972
Alan held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Barry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #15 in 1954, Barry #24 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Alan #69, Barry #73.
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 | Alan | Barry |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (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)); Barry does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Barry both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Barry doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Barry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys