Namewise

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 2025, Alan was ranked #539 and Ronald #627 among boys in England and Wales.

Alan and Ronald over time

Alan and Ronald appear together in 5 published lists, across 136 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 England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #539 and #627.

  • 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 · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Alan held the stronger position in 30 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, 2025: Alan #539, Ronald #627.

  • 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.

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 Ronald

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

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1970s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1970 and 1979.

The 1970s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alan, Ronald
FieldAlanRonald
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningExact 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
OriginUncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal)Not yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈæl.ən/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)England and Wales · Boys #627 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #539 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Ronald

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1972

    Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1972).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #627 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys