Alan vs Finlay
Alan and Finlaycompared 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Finlay #11 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Finlay #169 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Finlay #181 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Finlay #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alan and Finlay over time
Alan and Finlay appear together in 3 published lists, across 76 years of shared records. Finlay held the stronger position in more years in 2 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 3 of those lists, and Finlay 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 1998, Finlay moved ahead of Alan in England and Wales · Boys — #179 and #298 the year before became #196 and #183.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Finlay changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 2001 and 2023, ending at #348 and #169.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Alan and Finlay averaged 52.4 places apart, ending at #348 and #169.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Alan #60 in 2002, Finlay #244 in 2004.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Finlay in 27.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Finlay #57 in 2005.
The order changed in 1998: Finlay moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #179 and #298; by 1998 that had become #196 and #183.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Finlay #181.
Republic of Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 2002–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Finlay in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #60 in 2002, Finlay #244 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Finlay #372.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 2001–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Finlay in 19.
Highest recorded here: Alan #133 in 2009, Finlay #102 in 2013.
The order changed in 2016: Finlay moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #156 and #169; by 2016 that had become #180 and #102.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #348, Finlay #169.
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 | Finlay |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| 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 | 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)); Finlay does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Finlay both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Finlay doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Finlay
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #1646 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2024–2024
Highest recorded position: #11 among boys in Scotland, in 2024 (recorded 2024–2024).
Scotland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys