Alan vs Jasper
Alan and Jaspercompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Jasper #71 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Jasper #160 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Jasper #189 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Jasper #317 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alan and Jasper over time
Alan and Jasper appear together in 3 published lists, across 62 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Jasper 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 Jasper 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 2021, Jasper moved ahead of Alan in Northern Ireland · Boys — #231 and #270 the year before became #266 and #134.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Jasper in 25.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Jasper #71 in 2024.
The order changed in 2000: Jasper moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #232 and #253; by 2000 that had become #262 and #239.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Jasper #71.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1998–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Jasper in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #46 in 1998, Jasper #271 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Jasper #317.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2010–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Jasper in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alan #156 in 2015, Jasper #134 in 2021.
The order changed in 2021: Jasper moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #231 and #270; by 2021 that had become #266 and #134.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #348, Jasper #189.
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 | Jasper |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #56 (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)); Jasper does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Jasper both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Jasper 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
Jasper
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #284 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2012–2023
Highest recorded position: #38 among boys in New Zealand, in 2022 (recorded 2012–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #56 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys