Alan vs Finley
Alan and Finleycompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Finley #18 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Finley #108 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Finley #120 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Finley #159 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alan and Finley over time
Alan and Finley appear together in 3 published lists, across 68 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Finley 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 Finley 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, Finley moved ahead of Alan in England and Wales · Boys — #179 and #484 the year before became #196 and #182.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Finley changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1999 and 2023, ending at #348 and #108.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Finley in 27.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Finley #16 in 2020.
The order changed in 1998: Finley moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #179 and #484; by 1998 that had become #196 and #182.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Finley #18.
Republic of Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2005–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Finley in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alan #64 in 2009, Finley #136 in 2020.
The order changed in 2020: Finley moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #129 and #244; by 2020 that had become #204 and #136.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Finley #159.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 1999–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Finley in 8.
Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Finley #100 in 2020.
The order changed in 2017: Finley moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #180 and #253; by 2017 that had become #186 and #132.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #348, Finley #108.
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 | Finley |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #159 (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)); Finley does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Finley both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Finley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in 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
Finley
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #704 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in England and Wales, in 2020 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys