Alastair vs Eoin
Alastair and Eoincompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Alastair was ranked #357 and Eoin #30 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Alastair was ranked #637 and Eoin #74 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alastair was ranked #619 and Eoin #404 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alastair was ranked #1282 and Eoin #945 among boys in England and Wales.
Alastair and Eoin over time
Alastair and Eoin appear together in 2 published lists, across 50 years of shared records. Eoin 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.
Alastair reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Eoin 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alastair and Eoin changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1282 and #945.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alastair #195 in 1996, Eoin #398 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alastair held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Eoin in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alastair #195 in 1996, Eoin #398 in 1998.
The order changed in 2020: Eoin moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #787 and #952; by 2020 that had become #1273 and #755.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alastair #1282, Eoin #945.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1966–2020
Alastair held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Eoin in 21.
Highest recorded here: Alastair #217 in 1984, Eoin #14 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Alastair #637, Eoin #74.
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 | Alastair | Eoin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as the Irish form of John, ultimately tracing to Hebrew elements for 'Yahweh' and 'to be gracious/show favour'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈoːnʲ/ |
| 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 | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Eoin has a recorded origin (Irish); Alastair does not have one recorded yet.
- Alastair has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Eoin.
- A meaning is recorded for Eoin; Alastair doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1282 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Eoin
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #83 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #14 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys