Alfred vs Mel
Alfred and Melcompared 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 2004, Alfred was ranked #171 and Mel #3009 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Alfred was ranked #401 and Mel #616 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alfred and Mel over time
Alfred and Mel appear together in 1 published list, across 24 years of shared records. Alfred held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Mel 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.
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 Mel changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2012, ending at #401 and #616.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alfred and Mel averaged 59.5 places apart, ending at #401 and #616.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Alfred #134 in 1964, Mel #129 in 1964.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #134 and #129 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2012 they were #401 and #616.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1964–2012
Alfred held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Mel in 8.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #134 in 1964, Mel #129 in 1964.
The order changed in 2008: Alfred moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #629 and #629; by 2008 that had become #368 and #698.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Alfred #401, Mel #616.
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 | Mel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #26 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (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 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alfred has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Mel.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, 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 #26 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Mel
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #129 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2012
Highest recorded position: #129 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2012).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls