Alan vs Evan
Alan and Evancompared 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 Evan #80 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Evan #178 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Evan #181 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Evan #181 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #274 and Evan #350 among boys in Norway.
Alan and Evan over time
Alan and Evan appear together in 3 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Evan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alan in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 Evan 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Evan moved ahead of Alan in England and Wales · Boys — #163 and #192 the year before became #179 and #175.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Evan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 57 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #232 and #80.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1969–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Evan in 28.
Highest recorded here: Alan #9 in 1975, Evan #23 in 2007.
The order changed in 1998: Evan moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #42 and #44; by 1998 that had become #46 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Evan #80.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Evan in 28.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Evan #70 in 2009.
The order changed in 1997: Evan moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #163 and #192; by 1997 that had become #179 and #175.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Evan #178.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Evan in 22.
Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Evan #79 in 2010.
The order changed in 2002: Evan moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #151 and #162; by 2002 that had become #167 and #133.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #348, Evan #181.
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 | Evan |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #80 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| 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)); Evan does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Evan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Evan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, 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
Evan
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #291 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1969–2025
Highest recorded position: #23 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1969–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #350 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys