Alan vs Colin
Alan and Colincompared 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 1975, Alan was ranked #80 and Colin #99 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Alan was ranked #100 and Colin #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #274 and Colin #119 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Colin #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Alan was ranked #266 and Colin #433 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Colin #1000 among boys in England and Wales.
Alan and Colin over time
Alan and Colin appear together in 6 published lists, across 209 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Colin 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, Colin 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2006, Alan moved ahead of Colin in Northern Ireland · Boys — #307 and #265 the year before became #199 and #257.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Colin changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2021, ending at #266 and #433.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alan and Colin averaged 10.9 places apart, ending at #100 and #90.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Colin were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #100 and #90.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alan #163 in 1996, Colin #311 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Colin in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alan #9 in 1975, Colin #38 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Colin #348.
Norway · Boys44 shared years, 1946–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Colin in 14.
Highest recorded here: Alan #184 in 2015, Colin #119 in 2025.
The order changed in 2019: Colin moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #215 and #259; by 2019 that had become #279 and #215.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #274, Colin #119.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1983
Alan held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Colin in 31.
Highest recorded here: Alan #27 in 1953, Colin #22 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Alan #100, Colin #90.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Colin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Colin #311 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Colin #1000.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1975
Alan held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Colin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #15 in 1954, Colin #25 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Alan #80, Colin #99.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2021
Alan held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Colin in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Colin #96 in 1997.
The order changed in 2006: Alan moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #307 and #265; by 2006 that had become #199 and #257.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alan #266, Colin #433.
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 | Colin |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Norway · Boys #119 (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)); Colin does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Colin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Colin 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
Colin
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1983
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1983).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #119 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys