Alan vs Kasper
Alan and Kaspercompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #274 and Kasper #23 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Kasper #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Kasper #312 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Kasper #535 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Kasper #529 among boys in England and Wales.
Alan and Kasper over time
Alan and Kasper appear together in 3 published lists, across 88 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kasper 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 Kasper 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Kasper changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1973 and 2025, ending at #274 and #23.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Kasper were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 51 years, from 1973 to 2025, ending at #274 and #23.
List by list
Norway · Boys51 shared years, 1973–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Kasper in 41.
Highest recorded here: Alan #184 in 2015, Kasper #17 in 2023.
The order changed in 1988: Kasper moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #335 and #364; by 1988 that had become #494 and #271.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #274, Kasper #23.
England and Wales · Boys26 shared years, 1999–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Kasper in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alan #170 in 2015, Kasper #326 in 2021.
The order changed in 2024: Kasper moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #464 and #561; by 2024 that had become #592 and #529.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Kasper #529.
Republic of Ireland · Boys11 shared years, 2009–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Kasper in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #64 in 2009, Kasper #500 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Kasper #676.
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 | Kasper |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Norway · Boys #23 (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)); Kasper does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Kasper both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Kasper doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
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
Kasper
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #549 among boys in Norway in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1973–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1973–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys