Alan vs Casper

Alan and Caspercompared 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.

Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #274 and Casper #76 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Alan was ranked #175 and Casper #398 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Casper #192 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Casper #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Casper #330 among boys in Scotland.

Alan and Casper over time

Alan and Casper appear together in 3 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Casper 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 Casper 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 Casper changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1973 and 2025, ending at #274 and #76.
Longest-running competitions
Alan and Casper were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 46 years, from 1973 to 2025, ending at #274 and #76.

List by list

Norway · Boys46 shared years, 1973–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Casper in 35.
Highest recorded here: Alan #184 in 2015, Casper #61 in 2023.
The order changed in 1993: Casper moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #334 and #395; by 1993 that had become #492 and #319.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #274, Casper #76.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Casper in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Casper #192 in 2024.
The order changed in 2019: Casper moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #255 and #306; by 2019 that had become #312 and #259.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Casper #192.
Republic of Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 2005–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Casper in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #64 in 2009, Casper #412 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Casper #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 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, Casper
Field	Alan	Casper
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	GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO
Most recent popularity observation	Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)	Norway · Boys #76 (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)); Casper does not have one recorded yet.
Alan and Casper both have 2 syllables.
A meaning is recorded for Alan; Casper 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

Casper

Popularity journey

First recorded1973
First recorded at #579 among boys in Norway in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1973–2025
Highest recorded position: #61 among boys in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1973–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #76 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys