Alfred vs Nathaniel
Alfred and Nathanielcompared 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 Nathaniel #170 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alfred was ranked #81 and Nathaniel #144 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alfred was ranked #278 and Nathaniel #191 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alfred was ranked #286 and Nathaniel #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alfred was ranked #272 and Nathaniel #312 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alfred and Nathaniel over time
Alfred and Nathaniel appear together in 4 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Nathaniel held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alfred in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 2014, Alfred moved ahead of Nathaniel in England and Wales · Boys — #136 and #127 the year before became #125 and #129.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alfred and Nathaniel changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1989 and 2025, ending at #26 and #170.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Alfred and Nathaniel averaged 37.8 places apart, ending at #81 and #144.
- Longest-running competitions
Alfred and Nathaniel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 34 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #26 and #170.
List by list
Norway · Boys34 shared years, 1989–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Nathaniel in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #18 in 2023, Nathaniel #109 in 2012.
The order changed in 2010: Alfred moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #138 and #120; by 2010 that had become #123 and #134.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #26, Nathaniel #170.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alfred held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Nathaniel in 18.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #76 in 2023, Nathaniel #114 in 1999.
The order changed in 2014: Alfred moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #136 and #127; by 2014 that had become #125 and #129.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alfred #81, Nathaniel #144.
Republic of Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1978–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Nathaniel in 21.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #255 in 1978, Nathaniel #219 in 2020.
The order changed in 2006: Nathaniel moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #343 and #403; by 2006 that had become #596 and #282.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #286, Nathaniel #223.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2008–2023
Alfred held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Nathaniel in 9.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #262 in 2009, Nathaniel #197 in 2019.
The order changed in 2023: Alfred moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #414 and #234; by 2023 that had become #272 and #312.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alfred #272, Nathaniel #312.
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 | Nathaniel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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 #170 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alfred has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nathaniel.
- 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
Nathaniel
Popularity journey
First recorded1978
First recorded at #326 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2003–2014
Highest recorded position: #79 among boys in New Zealand, in 2012 (recorded 2003–2014).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #170 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys