Alan vs Lennon
Alan and Lennoncompared 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 Lennon #262 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Lennon #290 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Lennon #312 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Lennon #352 among boys in Scotland.
Alan and Lennon over time
Alan and Lennon appear together in 3 published lists, across 77 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Lennon 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 2 of those lists, Lennon in 1. 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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Alan #133 in 2009, Lennon #182 in 2008.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Lennon in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Lennon #153 in 2006.
The order changed in 2018: Lennon moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #214 and #277; by 2018 that had become #255 and #230.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Lennon #290.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1981–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Lennon in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alan #11 in 1981, Lennon #180 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Lennon #262.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 2000–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Lennon in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alan #133 in 2009, Lennon #182 in 2008.
The order changed in 2023: Lennon moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #352 and #414; by 2023 that had become #348 and #312.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #348, Lennon #312.
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 | Lennon |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #262 (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)); Lennon does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Lennon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Lennon 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
Lennon
Popularity journey
First recorded1981
First recorded at #260 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1981 — 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: #153 among boys in England and Wales, in 2006 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #262 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys