Alan vs Joe
Alan and Joecompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Joe #139 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Joe #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Joe #404 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Joe #785 among boys in England and Wales.
Alan and Joe over time
Alan and Joe appear together in 3 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Joe held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alan in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 Joe 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 2013, Alan moved ahead of Joe in England and Wales · Boys — #178 and #147 the year before became #185 and #194.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Joe changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2023, ending at #348 and #139.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Joe were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 36 years, from 1985 to 2025, ending at #232 and #152.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alan #163 in 1996, Joe #48 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1985–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Joe in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alan #12 in 1985, Joe #117 in 2016.
The order changed in 2018: Joe moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #120 and #127; by 2018 that had become #142 and #138.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Joe #152.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Joe in 17.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Joe #48 in 1997.
The order changed in 2013: Alan moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #178 and #147; by 2013 that had become #185 and #194.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Joe #785.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Joe in 19.
Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Joe #88 in 2017.
The order changed in 2010: Joe moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #133 and #182; by 2010 that had become #158 and #132.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #348, Joe #139.
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 | Joe |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| 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)); Joe does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Joe.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Joe doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Joe
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #304 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #48 among boys in England and Wales, in 1997 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys