Alan vs Declan
Alan and Declancompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Declan #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Declan #272 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Declan #404 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Declan #371 among boys in England and Wales.
Alan and Declan over time
Alan and Declan appear together in 3 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Declan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alan in 1.
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.
Declan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Alan 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 1972, Alan moved ahead of Declan in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #13 and #12 the year before became #11 and #15.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Declan changed places 8 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2023, ending at #348 and #272.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Alan and Declan averaged 57.7 places apart, ending at #348 and #272.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Declan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #232 and #348.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Alan #107 in 1999, Declan #54 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 58 of those years, Declan in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alan #9 in 1975, Declan #12 in 1971.
The order changed in 1972: Alan moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #13 and #12; by 1972 that had become #11 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Declan #348.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Declan in 20.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Declan #66 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Declan #371.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Declan in 18.
Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Declan #54 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #348, Declan #272.
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 | Declan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #348 (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)); Declan does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Declan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Declan 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
Declan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #23 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys