Alan vs Raymond
Alan and Raymondcompared 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 1988, Alan was ranked #98 and Raymond #87 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1982, Alan was ranked #99 and Raymond #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Raymond #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2008, Alan was ranked #267 and Raymond #487 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Raymond #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Raymond #545 among boys in England and Wales.
Alan and Raymond over time
Alan and Raymond appear together in 6 published lists, across 225 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Raymond in 2.
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.
Raymond reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Alan 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 1973, Raymond moved ahead of Alan in New Zealand · Boys — #69 and #71 the year before became #93 and #61.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Raymond changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1982, ending at #99 and #100.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alan and Raymond averaged 5.3 places apart, ending at #99 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Raymond were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 31 years, from 1952 to 1982, ending at #99 and #100.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alan #163 in 1996, Raymond #312 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #29 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #232 and #509.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Raymond in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #9 in 1975, Raymond #29 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Raymond #509.
Norway · Boys53 shared years, 1946–2008
Alan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Raymond in 44.
Highest recorded here: Alan #232 in 2003, Raymond #60 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Alan #267, Raymond #487.
New Zealand · Boys34 shared years, 1954–1988
Alan held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Raymond in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alan #15 in 1954, Raymond #28 in 1955.
The order changed in 1973: Raymond moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #69 and #71; by 1973 that had become #93 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Alan #98, Raymond #87.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys31 shared years, 1952–1982
Alan held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Raymond in 28.
Highest recorded here: Alan #27 in 1953, Raymond #17 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Alan #99, Raymond #100.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Raymond in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Raymond #312 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Raymond moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #464 and #539; by 2024 that had become #592 and #545.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Raymond #545.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Raymond in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Raymond #143 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #348, Raymond #395.
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 | Raymond |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| 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)); Raymond does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Raymond both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Raymond doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Raymond
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #265 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1991
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1991).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys