Alan vs Harley

Alan and Harleycompared 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 1988, Alan was ranked #98 and Harley #95 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Harley #148 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Harley #200 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Harley #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Harley #352 among boys in Scotland.

Alan and Harley over time

Alan and Harley appear together in 3 published lists, across 70 years of shared records. Harley held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alan 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 Harley 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 1998, Harley moved ahead of Alan in England and Wales · Boys — #179 and #211 the year before became #196 and #192.

List by list

England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Harley in 27.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Harley #45 in 2014.
The order changed in 1998: Harley moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #179 and #211; by 1998 that had become #196 and #192.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Harley #148.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1990–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Harley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #19 in 1990, Harley #181 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Harley #509.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2004–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Harley in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alan #133 in 2009, Harley #90 in 2017.
The order changed in 2011: Harley moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #158 and #222; by 2011 that had become #155 and #149.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #348, Harley #200.

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, 1952–2025 · 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, 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

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alan, Harley
Field	Alan	Harley
Record type	Editorially researched profile	Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usage	male	Used for both boys and girls
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)	Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025)
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)); Harley does not have one recorded yet.
Alan and Harley both have 2 syllables.
A meaning is recorded for Alan; Harley 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

Harley

Popularity journey

First recorded1986
First recorded at #94 among boys in New Zealand in 1986 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #45 among boys in England and Wales, in 2014 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls