Alan vs Noel
Alan and Noelcompared 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1963, Alan was ranked #30 and Noel #94 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1964, Alan was ranked #45 and Noel #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #274 and Noel #139 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Noel #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Alan was ranked #352 and Noel #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Noel #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Noel #567 among boys in England and Wales.
Alan and Noel over time
Alan and Noel appear together in 6 published lists, across 165 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Noel in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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, Noel 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1967, Alan moved ahead of Noel in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #23 and #19 the year before became #20 and #22.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Noel changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2022, ending at #352 and #414.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Noel were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #232 and #402.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Alan #27 in 1953, Noel #54 in 1953.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Noel in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alan #9 in 1975, Noel #19 in 1966.
The order changed in 1967: Alan moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #23 and #19; by 1967 that had become #20 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Noel #402.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Noel in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Noel #372 in 2015.
The order changed in 2023: Noel moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #472 and #524; by 2023 that had become #464 and #431.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Noel #567.
Norway · Boys26 shared years, 1994–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Noel in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alan #184 in 2015, Noel #132 in 2024.
The order changed in 2016: Noel moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #184 and #210; by 2016 that had become #237 and #224.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #274, Noel #139.
Northern Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1997–2022
Alan held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Noel in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Noel #168 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alan #352, Noel #414.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1952–1964
Alan held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Noel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #27 in 1953, Noel #54 in 1953.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Alan #45, Noel #91.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1954–1963
Alan held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Noel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #15 in 1954, Noel #63 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1963: Alan #30, Noel #94.
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 | Noel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Norway · Boys #139 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| 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)); Noel does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Noel.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Noel doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
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
Noel
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #56 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1966 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #139 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys