Alan vs Gregory
Alan and Gregorycompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Alan was ranked #100 and Gregory #49 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1988, Alan was ranked #98 and Gregory #76 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Alan was ranked #204 and Gregory #403 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Gregory #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Gregory #727 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #539 and Gregory #1406 among boys in England and Wales.
Alan and Gregory over time
Alan and Gregory appear together in 4 published lists, across 156 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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, Gregory 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 1959, Gregory moved ahead of Alan in New Zealand · Boys — #17 and #24 the year before became #24 and #19.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alan and Gregory averaged 41.1 places apart, ending at #100 and #49.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Gregory were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #539 and #1406.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alan #163 in 1996, Gregory #117 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 60 of those years, Gregory in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #9 in 1975, Gregory #72 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Gregory #829.
New Zealand · Boys34 shared years, 1954–1988
Alan held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Gregory in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alan #15 in 1954, Gregory #16 in 1960.
The order changed in 1959: Gregory moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #17 and #24; by 1959 that had become #24 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Alan #98, Gregory #76.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1983
Alan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gregory in 32.
Highest recorded here: Alan #27 in 1953, Gregory #7 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Alan #100, Gregory #49.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Gregory in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Gregory #117 in 1997.
The order changed in 2004: Alan moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #296 and #253; by 2004 that had become #275 and #352.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #539, Gregory #1406.
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.
- 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, 1952–2025 · 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, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Alan vs Noel
Alan and Noel 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 · Noel · 74 shared years, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Paul vs Alan
Paul 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.
Paul · Alan · 74 shared years, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Gregory
Pairs where Gregory shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Rory vs Gregory
In 1964 they stood at #73 and #78 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #60 and #829.
Rory · Gregory · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Gregory vs Eoin
In 1964 they stood at #78 and #83 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #829 and #106.
Gregory · Eoin · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shane vs Gregory
In 1964 they stood at #75 and #78 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #152 and #829.
Shane · Gregory · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Gregory vs Barry
In 1964 they stood at #78 and #69 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #829 and #402.
Gregory · Barry · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Alan | Gregory |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | From Latin Gregorius, from Late Greek Gregorios, from 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), itself from 'egeiro' ('to awaken'). Borne by Saint Gregory the Illuminator and Pope Gregory I the Great. |
| Origin | Uncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal) | From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæl.ən/ | /ˈɡɹɛɡ.ə.ɹi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Uncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal) origin, while Gregory is recorded with a From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius origin.
- Alan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Gregory.
- Alan's recorded meaning differs from Gregory's — see the table above for each.
- 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 #539 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Gregory
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #9 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 recorded1952–1990
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1990).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1406 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys