Alan vs Geoffrey
Alan and Geoffreycompared 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Alan was ranked #90 and Geoffrey #98 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Alan was ranked #100 and Geoffrey #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1997, Alan was ranked #136 and Geoffrey #271 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Alan was ranked #173 and Geoffrey #779 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Geoffrey #2443 among boys in England and Wales.
Alan and Geoffrey over time
Alan and Geoffrey appear together in 4 published lists, across 135 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Geoffrey in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Geoffrey changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1985, ending at #90 and #98.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alan and Geoffrey averaged 17.7 places apart, ending at #100 and #95.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Geoffrey were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #100 and #95.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alan #163 in 1996, Geoffrey #571 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys46 shared years, 1964–2022
Alan held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Geoffrey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #9 in 1975, Geoffrey #109 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alan #173, Geoffrey #779.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1983
Alan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Geoffrey in 32.
Highest recorded here: Alan #27 in 1953, Geoffrey #15 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Alan #100, Geoffrey #95.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Geoffrey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Geoffrey #571 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Geoffrey #2443.
New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1954–1985
Alan held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Geoffrey in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alan #15 in 1954, Geoffrey #27 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Alan #90, Geoffrey #98.
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 | Geoffrey |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2443 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| 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)); Geoffrey does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Geoffrey both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Geoffrey doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Geoffrey
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1987
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1987).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2443 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys