Alan vs Ross
Alan and Rosscompared 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 Ross #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Alan was ranked #90 and Ross #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alan was ranked #232 and Ross #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #352 and Ross #307 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alan was ranked #348 and Ross #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alan was ranked #592 and Ross #3254 among boys in England and Wales.
Alan and Ross over time
Alan and Ross appear together in 5 published lists, across 174 years of shared records. Alan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ross in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 4 of those lists, Ross 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 1982, Ross moved ahead of Alan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #93 and #99 the year before became #99 and #91.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alan and Ross changed places 10 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1985, ending at #90 and #96.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alan and Ross averaged 8.6 places apart, ending at #100 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Alan and Ross were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #232 and #329.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alan #163 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Alan held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Ross in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alan #9 in 1975, Ross #39 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #232, Ross #329.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alan held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Ross in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alan #163 in 1996, Ross #60 in 1997.
The order changed in 2007: Alan moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #251 and #224; by 2007 that had become #226 and #269.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alan #592, Ross #3254.
New Zealand · Boys29 shared years, 1954–1985
Alan held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Ross in 14.
Highest recorded here: Alan #15 in 1954, Ross #25 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Alan #90, Ross #96.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1952–1983
Alan held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Ross in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alan #27 in 1953, Ross #34 in 1958.
The order changed in 1982: Ross moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #93 and #99; by 1982 that had become #99 and #91.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Alan #100, Ross #86.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
Alan held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Ross in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alan #107 in 1999, Ross #30 in 1997.
The order changed in 2021: Alan moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #231 and #231; by 2021 that had become #266 and #433.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alan #348, Ross #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 | Ross |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| 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)); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
- Alan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Ross.
- A meaning is recorded for Alan; Ross doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Ross
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #36 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1985
Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1985).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys