Alannah vs Nell
Alannah and Nellcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alannah was ranked #103 and Nell #115 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Alannah was ranked #227 and Nell #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Alannah was ranked #790 and Nell #230 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alannah was ranked #934 and Nell #400 among girls in England and Wales.
Alannah and Nell over time
Alannah and Nell appear together in 3 published lists, across 61 years of shared records. Alannah held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nell in 1.
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.
Alannah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Nell 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Nell rose about as far as Alannah fell — from #388 and #3126 in 1996 to #934 and #400 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alannah held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Nell in 23.
Highest recorded here: Alannah #357 in 1997, Nell #263 in 2022.
The order changed in 2002: Nell moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #435 and #514; by 2002 that had become #372 and #342.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alannah #934, Nell #400.
Republic of Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 2000–2025
Alannah held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Nell in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alannah #49 in 2003, Nell #114 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alannah #103, Nell #115.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 2006–2024
Alannah held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Nell in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alannah #151 in 2018, Nell #253 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alannah #227, Nell #253.
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 | Alannah | Nell |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #103 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #115 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alannah has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Nell.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Alannah
Popularity journey
First recorded1983
First recorded at #529 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1983 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1983–2025
Highest recorded position: #49 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 1983–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #103 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Nell
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #257 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #114 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #115 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls