Alan vs Killian
Alan and Killiancompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Killian #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Killian #249 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Killian #268 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Killian #638 among boys in England and Wales.
Alan and Killian over time
Alan and Killian appear together in 3 published lists, across 117 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Killian in 0.
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 Killian 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 2017, Killian moved ahead of Alan in Northern Ireland · Boys — #180 and #216 the year before became #186 and #157.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Killian changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #232 and #141.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Killian were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #232 and #141.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Killian in 21.
Highest recorded here: Alan #9 in 1975, Killian #55 in 2001.
The order changed in 2014: Killian moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #76 and #87; by 2014 that had become #94 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Killian #141.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Killian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Killian #492 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Killian #638.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1997–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Killian in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Killian #157 in 2017.
The order changed in 2017: Killian moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #180 and #216; by 2017 that had become #186 and #157.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #348, Killian #249.
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 | Killian |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Uncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal)); Killian does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Killian both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Killian 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
Killian
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #204 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys