Alan vs Ronald
Alan and Ronaldcompared 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 1969, Alan was ranked #49 and Ronald #98 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Alan was ranked #72 and Ronald #718 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1972, Alan was ranked #76 and Ronald #88 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Ronald #619 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2000, Alan was ranked #372 and Ronald #569 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Ronald #796 among boys in England and Wales.
Alan and Ronald over time
Alan and Ronald appear together in 5 published lists, across 135 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ronald in 1.
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.
Ronald 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1969, Alan moved ahead of Ronald in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #62 and #59 the year before became #56 and #65.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alan and Ronald averaged 5.7 places apart, ending at #76 and #88.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Ronald were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 36 years, from 1946 to 2000, ending at #372 and #569.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Alan #27 in 1953, Ronald #24 in 1952.
List by list
Norway · Boys36 shared years, 1946–2000
Alan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Ronald in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alan #241 in 1981, Ronald #134 in 1947.
The order changed in 1985: Alan moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #571 and #396; by 1985 that had become #323 and #479.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Alan #372, Ronald #569.
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1964–2012
Alan held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Ronald in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #9 in 1975, Ronald #89 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Alan #72, Ronald #718.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Ronald in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Ronald #564 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Ronald #796.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1952–1972
Alan held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Ronald in 5.
Highest recorded here: Alan #27 in 1953, Ronald #24 in 1952.
The order changed in 1969: Alan moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #62 and #59; by 1969 that had become #56 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Alan #76, Ronald #88.
New Zealand · Boys15 shared years, 1954–1969
Alan held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Ronald in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alan #15 in 1954, Ronald #36 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Alan #49, Ronald #98.
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 | Ronald |
|---|---|---|
| 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-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Uncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal)); Ronald does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan and Ronald both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Ronald doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, 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
Ronald
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #202 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1972
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1972).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #796 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys