Alfie vs Iarla
Alfie and Iarlacompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2015, Alfie was ranked #14 and Iarla #4747 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alfie was ranked #17 and Iarla #239 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alfie was ranked #36 and Iarla #149 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alfie and Iarla over time
Alfie and Iarla appear together in 2 published lists, across 31 years of shared records. Alfie held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Iarla 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.
Alfie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Iarla 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.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 2000–2025
Alfie held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Iarla in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alfie #36 in 2017, Iarla #135 in 2021.
The order changed in 2003: Alfie moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #390 and #347; by 2003 that had become #305 and #500.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfie #36, Iarla #149.
Northern Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 2015–2024
Alfie held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Iarla in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alfie #10 in 2016, Iarla #239 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alfie #17, Iarla #239.
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 | Iarla |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #16 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #149 (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); Iarla does not have one recorded yet.
- Alfie and Iarla both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alfie; Iarla doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in England and Wales, in 2009 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #16 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Iarla
Popularity journey
First recorded1981
First recorded at #322 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1981 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1981–2025
Highest recorded position: #135 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 1981–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #149 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys