Alan vs Robert
Alan and Robertcompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Alan was ranked #100 and Robert #16 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1988, Alan was ranked #98 and Robert #17 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Robert #126 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #539 and Robert #164 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #274 and Robert #363 among boys in Norway.
Alan and Robert over time
Alan and Robert appear together in 6 published lists, across 257 years of shared records. Robert held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Alan 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.
Robert reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Robert changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1946 and 2025, ending at #274 and #363.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alan and Robert averaged 50.6 places apart, ending at #100 and #16.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Robert were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #539 and #164.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alan #163 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys72 shared years, 1946–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Robert in 57.
Highest recorded here: Alan #184 in 2015, Robert #25 in 1974.
The order changed in 2020: Alan moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #279 and #254; by 2020 that had become #204 and #353.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #274, Robert #363.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Robert in 41.
Highest recorded here: Alan #9 in 1975, Robert #12 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Robert #104.
New Zealand · Boys34 shared years, 1954–1988
Alan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 34.
Highest recorded here: Alan #15 in 1954, Robert #5 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Alan #98, Robert #17.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1983
Alan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 32.
Highest recorded here: Alan #27 in 1953, Robert #3 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Alan #100, Robert #16.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 30.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #539, Robert #164.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 27.
Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Robert #35 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #348, Robert #126.
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 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
- Alan vs Noel
Alan and Noel 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 · Noel · 74 shared years, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Robert
Pairs where Robert shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Robert vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #30 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #164 and #716.
Robert · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Raymond
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #104 and #509.
Robert · Raymond · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Magnus
In 1945 they stood at #126 and #125 in Norway · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #363 and #17.
Robert · Magnus · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Alfred
In 1945 they stood at #126 and #127 in Norway · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #363 and #26.
Robert · Alfred · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Alan | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Uncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal) | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæl.ən/ | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alan is recorded with a Uncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal) origin, while Robert is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Alan and Robert both have 2 syllables.
- Alan's recorded meaning differs from Robert's — see the table above for each.
- 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 #539 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #164 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys