Alan vs Graham
Alan and Grahamcompared 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 1972, Alan was ranked #69 and Graham #74 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1979, Alan was ranked #89 and Graham #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2010, Alan was ranked #158 and Graham #387 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #319 and Graham #770 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Graham #727 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Graham #5119 among boys in England and Wales.
Alan and Graham over time
Alan and Graham appear together in 5 published lists, across 139 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Graham in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Graham reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Alan in 1. 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 1976, Alan moved ahead of Graham in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #83 and #82 the year before became #85 and #87.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Graham changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1979, ending at #89 and #100.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alan and Graham averaged 7.5 places apart, ending at #89 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Graham were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 54 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #319 and #770.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alan #163 in 1996, Graham #341 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys54 shared years, 1964–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Graham in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #9 in 1975, Graham #52 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #319, Graham #770.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Graham in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Graham #341 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Graham #5119.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1952–1979
Alan held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Graham in 22.
Highest recorded here: Alan #27 in 1953, Graham #20 in 1952.
The order changed in 1976: Alan moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #83 and #82; by 1976 that had become #85 and #87.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Alan #89, Graham #100.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1954–1972
Alan held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Graham in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #15 in 1954, Graham #23 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Alan #69, Graham #74.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2010
Alan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Graham in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Graham #137 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Alan #158, Graham #387.
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 | Graham |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #727 (2024) |
| 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)); Graham does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Graham both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Graham doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, 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
Graham
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #20 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 recorded1952–1979
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1979).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5119 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys