Alan vs Grayson
Alan and Graysoncompared 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 Grayson #62 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Grayson #90 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Grayson #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Grayson #249 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alan and Grayson over time
Alan and Grayson appear together in 3 published lists, across 41 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Grayson 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 Grayson 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 2016, Grayson moved ahead of Alan in England and Wales · Boys — #170 and #172 the year before became #181 and #139.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Grayson changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 2014 and 2025, ending at #232 and #244.
- Mirrored each other
Over 20 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Grayson rose about as far as Alan fell — from #241 and #3208 in 2005 to #592 and #90 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys20 shared years, 2005–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Grayson in 9.
Highest recorded here: Alan #170 in 2015, Grayson #66 in 2020.
The order changed in 2016: Grayson moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #170 and #172; by 2016 that had become #181 and #139.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Grayson #90.
Republic of Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2014–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Grayson in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alan #94 in 2014, Grayson #175 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Grayson #244.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 2012–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Grayson in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alan #180 in 2016, Grayson #106 in 2020.
The order changed in 2018: Grayson moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #186 and #250; by 2018 that had become #255 and #195.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #348, Grayson #249.
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 | Grayson |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #97 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| 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)); Grayson does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Grayson both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Grayson 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
Grayson
Popularity journey
First recorded2005
First recorded at #3208 among boys in England and Wales in 2005 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2014–2023
Highest recorded position: #44 among boys in New Zealand, in 2022 (recorded 2014–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys