Alastair vs Denis
Alastair and Deniscompared 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 · Boys
In 2020, Alastair was ranked #637 and Denis #180 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Alastair was ranked #357 and Denis #315 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Alastair was ranked #1153 and Denis #484 among boys in England and Wales.
Alastair and Denis over time
Alastair and Denis appear together in 2 published lists, across 51 years of shared records. Denis held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alastair 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Longest-running competitions
Alastair and Denis were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1153 and #484.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alastair held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Denis in 19.
Highest recorded here: Alastair #195 in 1996, Denis #262 in 2020.
The order changed in 2007: Denis moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #440 and #443; by 2007 that had become #589 and #575.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alastair #1153, Denis #484.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1966–2020
Alastair held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Denis in 21.
Highest recorded here: Alastair #217 in 1984, Denis #26 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Alastair #637, Denis #180.
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 Denis
Pairs where Denis shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Adrian vs Denis
Adrian and Denis changed places 16 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #348 and #232.
Adrian · Denis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Timothy vs Denis
Timothy and Denis changed places 16 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #329 and #232.
Timothy · Denis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Richard vs Denis
Richard and Denis changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #232 and #232.
Richard · Denis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- John vs Denis
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — John #1 in 1964, Denis #21 in 1964.
John · Denis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Peaked in the same years
Side by side
| Field | Alastair | Denis |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #1153 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alastair has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Denis.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Alastair
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #229 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2007
Highest recorded position: #182 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1997–2007).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1153 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Denis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #65 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #484 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys