Namewise

Alfred vs Laurence

Alfred and Laurencecompared 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 2024, Alfred was ranked #81 and Laurence #389 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2014, Alfred was ranked #398 and Laurence #346 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Alfred was ranked #430 and Laurence #582 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Alfred and Laurence over time

Alfred and Laurence appear together in 2 published lists, across 73 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

The order between them changed and held in 2 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 Laurence in England and Wales · Boys — #192 and #161 the year before became #174 and #185.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Alfred and Laurence changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2024, ending at #430 and #582.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Alfred and Laurence were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 44 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #430 and #582.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys44 shared years, 19642024

    Alfred held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Laurence in 35.

    Highest recorded here: Alfred #134 in 1964, Laurence #47 in 1968.

    The order changed in 2024: Alfred moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #472 and #396; by 2024 that had become #430 and #582.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alfred #430, Laurence #582.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Alfred held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Laurence in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Alfred #76 in 2023, Laurence #161 in 1997.

    The order changed in 1998: Alfred moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #192 and #161; by 1998 that had become #174 and #185.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alfred #81, Laurence #389.

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 Alfred

Pairs where Alfred shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alfred, Laurence
FieldAlfredLaurence
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
PronunciationNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NOAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #26 (2025)England and Wales · Boys #389 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Alfred has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Laurence.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.

How each name got here

Alfred

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #26 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Laurence

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1964–2024

    Highest recorded position: #47 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1968 (recorded 1964–2024).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #389 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Boys