Alfie vs Shams
Alfie and Shamscompared 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 2023, Alfie was ranked #16 and Shams #4991 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 1998, Alfie was ranked #2701 and Shams #3848 among girls in England and Wales.
Alfie and Shams over time
Alfie and Shams appear together in 1 published list, across 13 years of shared records. Alfie held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Shams in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Shams reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Alfie 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
England and Wales · Boys13 shared years, 1997–2023
Alfie held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Shams in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alfie #4 in 2010, Shams #2859 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alfie #16, Shams #4991.
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 Alfie
Pairs where Alfie shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Alfie vs Taylor
In 1996 they stood at #119 and #121 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #16 and #507.
Alfie · Taylor · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alfie vs Hayden
In 1996 they stood at #119 and #124 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #16 and #314.
Alfie · Hayden · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alfie vs Archie
Alfie and Archie both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Alfie · Archie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Alfie vs Caleb
Alfie and Caleb both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Alfie · Caleb · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Side by side
| Field | Alfie | Shams |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | female |
| 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 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #16 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1719 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 40/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alfie has a recorded origin (English, diminutive of Alfred); Shams does not have one recorded yet.
- Alfie has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shams.
- A meaning is recorded for Alfie; Shams doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW.
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
Shams
Popularity journey
First recorded1997
First recorded at #2859 among boys in England and Wales in 1997 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded1998–2025
Highest recorded position: #1719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1998–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls