Alfie vs Caleb
Alfie and Calebcompared 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alfie was ranked #15 and Caleb #42 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alfie was ranked #16 and Caleb #75 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alfie was ranked #17 and Caleb #26 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alfie was ranked #36 and Caleb #108 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Alfie was ranked #81 and Caleb #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Alfie and Caleb over time
Alfie and Caleb appear together in 3 published lists, across 77 years of shared records. Alfie held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Caleb in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Alfie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Caleb 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2008, Alfie moved ahead of Caleb in Northern Ireland · Boys — #89 and #70 the year before became #51 and #54.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Alfie and Caleb averaged 28.4 places apart, ending at #17 and #26.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alfie held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Caleb in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alfie #4 in 2009, Caleb #72 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alfie #16, Caleb #75.
Republic of Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 2000–2025
Alfie held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Caleb in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alfie #36 in 2017, Caleb #91 in 2024.
The order changed in 2008: Alfie moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #195 and #158; by 2008 that had become #146 and #163.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfie #36, Caleb #108.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 2000–2024
Alfie held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Caleb in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alfie #10 in 2016, Caleb #20 in 2023.
The order changed in 2008: Alfie moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #89 and #70; by 2008 that had become #51 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alfie #17, Caleb #26.
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 | Alfie | Caleb |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A diminutive/pet form, inheriting its meaning from Alfred — 'elf counsel', from Old English aelf ('elf') and raed ('counsel, advice'). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English, diminutive of Alfred | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈælfi/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #36 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #108 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alfie has a recorded origin (English, diminutive of Alfred); Caleb does not have one recorded yet.
- Alfie and Caleb both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alfie; Caleb doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Alfie
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #119 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in England and Wales, in 2009 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Caleb
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #98 among boys in New Zealand in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1982–2023
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1999 (recorded 1982–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #108 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys