Alfred vs Joel
Alfred and Joelcompared 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 Joel #178 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alfred was ranked #81 and Joel #209 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alfred was ranked #272 and Joel #118 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alfred was ranked #278 and Joel #278 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alfred was ranked #286 and Joel #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alfred and Joel over time
Alfred and Joel appear together in 4 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Joel held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alfred in 1.
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 2 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 2016, Alfred moved ahead of Joel in England and Wales · Boys — #114 and #109 the year before became #111 and #119.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alfred and Joel changed places 8 times in Norway · Boys between 1969 and 2025, ending at #26 and #178.
- Longest-running competitions
Alfred and Joel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 46 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #26 and #178.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Alfred #262 in 2009, Joel #50 in 2010.
List by list
Norway · Boys46 shared years, 1969–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Joel in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #18 in 2023, Joel #148 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #26, Joel #178.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alfred held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Joel in 20.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #76 in 2023, Joel #62 in 2001.
The order changed in 2016: Alfred moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #114 and #109; by 2016 that had become #111 and #119.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alfred #81, Joel #209.
Republic of Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1973–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Joel in 17.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #239 in 1981, Joel #185 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #286, Joel #509.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2008–2023
Alfred held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Joel in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #262 in 2009, Joel #50 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alfred #272, Joel #118.
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 | Joel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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) | Norway · Boys #178 (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 has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Joel.
- 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
Joel
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #523 among boys in Norway in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1976–2010
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1987 (recorded 1976–2010).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #178 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys