Alfred vs Alistair
Alfred and Alistaircompared 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 2025, Alfred was ranked #76 and Alistair #517 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alfred was ranked #278 and Alistair #246 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alfred was ranked #286 and Alistair #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Alfred was ranked #312 and Alistair #365 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alfred and Alistair over time
Alfred and Alistair appear together in 2 published lists, across 53 years of shared records. Alfred held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alistair 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1999, Alfred moved ahead of Alistair in England and Wales · Boys — #174 and #148 the year before became #150 and #180.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alfred and Alistair changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1969 and 2025, ending at #286 and #509.
- Longest-running competitions
Alfred and Alistair were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #76 and #517.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Alistair in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #76 in 2023, Alistair #133 in 1996.
The order changed in 1999: Alfred moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #174 and #148; by 1999 that had become #150 and #180.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #76, Alistair #517.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1969–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Alistair in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #163 in 1969, Alistair #245 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #286, Alistair #509.
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 | Alfred | Alistair |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #26 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alfred has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Alistair.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Alfred
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #127 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #76 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Alistair
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #97 among boys in New Zealand in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1956–1964
Highest recorded position: #87 among boys in New Zealand, in 1958 (recorded 1956–1964).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #517 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys