Alfred vs David
Alfred and Davidcompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alfred was ranked #26 and David #88 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alfred was ranked #286 and David #45 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alfred was ranked #81 and David #64 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alfred was ranked #278 and David #71 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alfred was ranked #272 and David #83 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alfred and David over time
Alfred and David appear together in 4 published lists, across 162 years of shared records. David held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Alfred in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
David reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Alfred in 1. 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alfred and David changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #26 and #88.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Alfred rose about as far as David fell — from #218 and #32 in 1996 to #81 and #64 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Alfred and David were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 75 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #26 and #88.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Alfred #262 in 2009, David #44 in 2009.
List by list
Norway · Boys75 shared years, 1945–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 16 of those years, David in 59.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #18 in 2023, David #31 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #26, David #88.
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1964–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 0 of those years, David in 45.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #134 in 1964, David #1 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #286, David #45.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alfred held the stronger position in 0 of those years, David in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #76 in 2023, David #32 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alfred #81, David #64.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2008–2023
Alfred held the stronger position in 0 of those years, David in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #262 in 2009, David #44 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alfred #272, David #83.
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 | David |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'beloved', with a possible secondary sense of 'uncle' for the root. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈdeɪvɪd/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #26 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #45 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- David has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Alfred does not have one recorded yet.
- Alfred and David both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for David; Alfred doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
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 #26 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
David
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #167 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2018
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1961 (recorded 1952–2018).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #88 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys