Alan vs Bernard

Alan and Bernardcompared 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 1965, Alan was ranked #38 and Bernard #94 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1966, Alan was ranked #59 and Bernard #89 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Bernard #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #274 and Bernard #277 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Alan was ranked #352 and Bernard #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Bernard #613 among boys in England and Wales.

Alan and Bernard over time

Alan and Bernard appear together in 6 published lists, across 165 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Bernard in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Alan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Bernard in 2. 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 Bernard changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1958 and 2025, ending at #274 and #277.
Longest-running competitions
Alan and Bernard were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 31 years, from 1958 to 2025, ending at #274 and #277.
Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Alan #27 in 1953, Bernard #70 in 1953.
Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #29 and #33 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #232 and #509.

List by list

Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Bernard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #9 in 1975, Bernard #33 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Bernard #509.
Norway · Boys31 shared years, 1958–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Bernard in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alan #184 in 2015, Bernard #200 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #274, Bernard #277.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Bernard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Bernard #613 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Bernard #613.
Northern Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1997–2022
Alan held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Bernard in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Bernard #163 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alan #352, Bernard #414.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1952–1966
Alan held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Bernard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #27 in 1953, Bernard #70 in 1953.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Alan #59, Bernard #89.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1954–1965
Alan held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Bernard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #15 in 1954, Bernard #79 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Alan #38, Bernard #94.

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

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alan, Bernard
Field	Alan	Bernard
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, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observation	Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)	Norway · Boys #277 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)	90/100	Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)	95/100	82/100
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)); Bernard does not have one recorded yet.
Alan and Bernard both have 2 syllables.
A meaning is recorded for Alan; Bernard doesn't have one written yet.
Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, 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

Bernard

Popularity journey

First recorded1952
First recorded at #84 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: #33 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #277 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys