Namewise

Alan vs Maddox

Alan and Maddoxcompared 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 2021, Alan was ranked #186 and Maddox #755 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2022, Alan was ranked #352 and Maddox #264 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Maddox #271 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Maddox #432 among boys in Scotland.

Alan and Maddox over time

Alan and Maddox appear together in 2 published lists, across 31 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Maddox 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 2 of those lists, and Maddox 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.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 22 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Maddox rose about as far as Alan fell — from #296 and #1962 in 2003 to #592 and #271 in 2024.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys22 shared years, 20032024

    Alan held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Maddox in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Alan #170 in 2015, Maddox #271 in 2024.

    The order changed in 2021: Maddox moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #298 and #337; by 2021 that had become #352 and #344.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Maddox #271.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 20082022

    Alan held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Maddox in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Alan #133 in 2009, Maddox #264 in 2022.

    The order changed in 2022: Maddox moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #231 and #392; by 2022 that had become #352 and #264.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Alan #352, Maddox #264.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Alan, Maddox
FieldAlanMaddox
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningExact 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
OriginUncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal)Not yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈæl.ən/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)England and Wales · Boys #271 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Alan has a recorded origin (Uncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal)); Maddox does not have one recorded yet.
  • Alan and Maddox both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Alan; Maddox 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #274 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Maddox

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded2003

    First recorded at #1962 among boys in England and Wales in 2003 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2008–2024

    Highest recorded position: #264 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 2008–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Girls