Namewise

Alan vs Mikolaj

Alan and Mikolajcompared 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 2020, Alan was ranked #231 and Mikolaj #392 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Alan was ranked #240 and Mikolaj #655 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Alan was ranked #274 and Mikolaj #507 among boys in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Mikolaj #1076 among boys in England and Wales.

Alan and Mikolaj over time

Alan and Mikolaj appear together in 4 published lists, across 79 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Mikolaj in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Alan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Mikolaj 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 England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alan #170 in 2015, Mikolaj #322 in 2016.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys29 shared years, 19822025

    Alan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Mikolaj in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Alan #184 in 2015, Mikolaj #275 in 2007.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #274, Mikolaj #507.

  • England and Wales · Boys22 shared years, 20032024

    Alan held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Mikolaj in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Alan #170 in 2015, Mikolaj #322 in 2016.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Mikolaj #1076.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 20062024

    Alan held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Mikolaj in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Alan #64 in 2009, Mikolaj #166 in 2017.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #240, Mikolaj #655.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 20092020

    Alan held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Mikolaj in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Alan #133 in 2009, Mikolaj #230 in 2010.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2020: Alan #231, Mikolaj #392.

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, Mikolaj
FieldAlanMikolaj
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
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)Norway · Boys #507 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Alan has a recorded origin (Uncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal)); Mikolaj does not have one recorded yet.
  • Alan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Mikolaj.
  • A meaning is recorded for Alan; Mikolaj doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.

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

Mikolaj

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1982

    First recorded at #590 among boys in Norway in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2006–2024

    Highest recorded position: #166 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2017 (recorded 2006–2024).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #507 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys