Alfred vs Dale
Alfred and Dalecompared 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 Dale #2952 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2016, Alfred was ranked #358 and Dale #358 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Alfred was ranked #657 and Dale #657 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alfred and Dale over time
Alfred and Dale appear together in 2 published lists, across 57 years of shared records. Alfred held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Dale 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 1998, Alfred moved ahead of Dale in England and Wales · Boys — #192 and #147 the year before became #174 and #229.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alfred and Dale changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1968 and 2022, ending at #657 and #657.
- Longest-running competitions
Alfred and Dale were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #76 and #2952.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Dale in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #76 in 2023, Dale #117 in 1996.
The order changed in 1998: Alfred moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #192 and #147; by 1998 that had become #174 and #229.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #76, Dale #2952.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1968–2022
Alfred held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Dale in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #177 in 1968, Dale #101 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alfred #657, Dale #657.
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 | Dale |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #26 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2952 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alfred and Dale both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Dale
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1957–1991
Highest recorded position: #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1988 (recorded 1957–1991).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2952 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys