Alan vs Rafferty

Alan and Raffertycompared 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.

England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Rafferty #221 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Rafferty #382 among boys in Scotland.

Alan and Rafferty over time

Alan and Rafferty appear together in 1 published list, across 25 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Rafferty in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one 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 1 of those lists, and Rafferty 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 25 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Rafferty rose about as far as Alan fell — from #262 and #2501 in 2000 to #592 and #221 in 2024.

List by list

England and Wales · Boys25 shared years, 2000–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Rafferty in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alan #170 in 2015, Rafferty #172 in 2023.
The order changed in 2019: Rafferty moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #255 and #273; by 2019 that had become #312 and #282.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Rafferty #221.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Alan

Pairs where Alan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Gregory vs Alan
Gregory and Alan both fell over the same years in 3 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Gregory · Alan · 72 shared years, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Alan vs Ian
Alan and Ian both fell over the same years in 3 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Alan · Ian · 74 shared years, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Alan vs Keith
Alan and Keith both fell over the same years in 3 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Alan · Keith · 71 shared years, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Kevin vs Alan
Kevin and Alan both fell over the same years in 3 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Kevin · Alan · 74 shared years, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alan, Rafferty
Field	Alan	Rafferty
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	3
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-SCT
Most recent popularity observation	Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)	England and Wales · Boys #221 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)	90/100	Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)	95/100	76/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)	100/100	60/100
Data Confidence	medium	medium

What the data shows

Alan has a recorded origin (Uncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal)); Rafferty does not have one recorded yet.
Alan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Rafferty.
A meaning is recorded for Alan; Rafferty doesn't have one written yet.
Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT.

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

Rafferty

Popularity journey

First recorded2000
First recorded at #2501 among boys in England and Wales in 2000 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2000–2024
Highest recorded position: #172 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023 (recorded 2000–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #221 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys