Namewise

Alan vs Frazer

Alan and Frazercompared 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.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2021, Alan was ranked #266 and Frazer #433 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Frazer #727 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Frazer #814 among boys in England and Wales.

Alan and Frazer over time

Alan and Frazer appear together in 2 published lists, across 41 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Frazer in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.

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.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alan #163 in 1996, Frazer #250 in 1997.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Alan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Frazer in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Frazer #250 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Frazer #814.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 19972021

    Alan held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Frazer in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Frazer #240 in 1998.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Alan #266, Frazer #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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Alan

Pairs where Alan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

  • Gregory vs Alan

    Gregory and Alan both fell over the same years in 3 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Gregory · Alan · 72 shared years, 19522025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Alan vs Ian

    Alan and Ian both fell over the same years in 3 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Alan · Ian · 74 shared years, 19522025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Alan vs Keith

    Alan and Keith both fell over the same years in 3 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Alan · Keith · 71 shared years, 19522025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Kevin vs Alan

    Kevin and Alan both fell over the same years in 3 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Kevin · Alan · 74 shared years, 19522025 · Moved together in several countries

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alan, Frazer
FieldAlanFrazer
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningExact 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
OriginUncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal)Not yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈæl.ən/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)Scotland · Boys #727 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Alan has a recorded origin (Uncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal)); Frazer does not have one recorded yet.
  • Alan and Frazer both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Alan; Frazer doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT.

How each name got here

Alan

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #274 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Frazer

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #279 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2021

    Highest recorded position: #240 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1997–2021).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #814 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Boys