Namewise

Alan vs Ulrik

Alan and Ulrikcompared 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.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Alan was ranked #274 and Ulrik #14 among boys in Norway.

Alan and Ulrik over time

Alan and Ulrik appear together in 1 published list, across 54 years of shared records. Ulrik held the stronger position in more years in 1 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.

Alan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Ulrik in none. 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.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys54 shared years, 19462025

    Alan held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Ulrik in 39.

    Highest recorded here: Alan #184 in 2015, Ulrik #14 in 2025.

    The order changed in 1988: Ulrik moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #335 and #373; by 1988 that had become #494 and #245.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alan #274, Ulrik #14.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Alan, Ulrik
FieldAlanUlrik
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, NZNO
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)Norway · Boys #14 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/10040/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Alan has a recorded origin (Uncertain (Brythonic or Alan-tribal)); Ulrik does not have one recorded yet.
  • Alan and Ulrik both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Alan; Ulrik doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in NO.

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 #274 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Ulrik

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #364 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 recorded1946–2025

    Highest recorded position: #14 among boys in Norway, in 2025 (recorded 1946–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #14 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys