Alan vs Bradley
Alan and Bradleycompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Alan was ranked #100 and Bradley #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1988, Alan was ranked #98 and Bradley #33 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Bradley #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Bradley #246 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Alan was ranked #352 and Bradley #264 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Bradley #364 among boys in England and Wales.
Alan and Bradley over time
Alan and Bradley appear together in 5 published lists, across 131 years of shared records. Bradley held the stronger position in more years in 4 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 4 of those lists, Bradley in 1. 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 1963, Bradley moved ahead of Alan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #41 and #50 the year before became #44 and #39.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Bradley changed places 10 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2022, ending at #352 and #264.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alan and Bradley averaged 39.9 places apart, ending at #100 and #30.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Bradley were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 33 years, from 1987 to 2025, ending at #232 and #372.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alan #163 in 1996, Bradley #28 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1987–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Bradley in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alan #13 in 1987, Bradley #130 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Bradley #372.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Bradley in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Bradley #28 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Bradley #364.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1956–1983
Alan held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Bradley in 22.
Highest recorded here: Alan #28 in 1957, Bradley #19 in 1976.
The order changed in 1963: Bradley moved ahead. In 1962 they stood at #41 and #50; by 1963 that had become #44 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Alan #100, Bradley #30.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1997–2022
Alan held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Bradley in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Bradley #68 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alan #352, Bradley #264.
New Zealand · Boys15 shared years, 1973–1988
Alan held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Bradley in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alan #72 in 1974, Bradley #33 in 1988.
The order changed in 1976: Bradley moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #80 and #93; by 1976 that had become #96 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Alan #98, Bradley #33.
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 | Bradley |
|---|---|---|
| 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 · Boys #372 (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)); Bradley does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Bradley both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Bradley 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
Bradley
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1956–2003
Highest recorded position: #19 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1956–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys