Alfred vs Niels
Alfred and Nielscompared 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 Niels #471 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2016, Alfred was ranked #111 and Niels #4023 among boys in England and Wales.
Alfred and Niels over time
Alfred and Niels appear together in 2 published lists, across 69 years of shared records. Alfred held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Niels in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Niels reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Alfred in none. 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 Niels changed places 16 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #26 and #471.
- Mirrored each other
Over 60 shared years in Norway · Boys, Alfred rose about as far as Niels fell — from #127 and #233 in 1945 to #26 and #471 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Alfred and Niels were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 60 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #26 and #471.
List by list
Norway · Boys60 shared years, 1945–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Niels in 17.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #22 in 2024, Niels #201 in 1959.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #26, Niels #471.
England and Wales · Boys9 shared years, 1998–2016
Alfred held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Niels in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #111 in 2016, Niels #1642 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Alfred #111, Niels #4023.
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.
- Stig vs Alfred
In 1945 they stood at #119 and #127 in Norway · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2021 they were #493 and #25.
Stig · Alfred · 63 shared years, 1945–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Alfred
In 1945 they stood at #126 and #127 in Norway · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #363 and #26.
Robert · Alfred · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Morten vs Alfred
Over 75 shared years in Norway · Boys, Alfred rose about as far as Morten fell — from #107 and #127 in 1945 to #214 and #26 in 2025.
Morten · Alfred · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Peter vs Alfred
Over 75 shared years in Norway · Boys, Alfred rose about as far as Peter fell — from #106 and #127 in 1945 to #174 and #26 in 2025.
Peter · Alfred · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Alfred | Niels |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #26 (2025) | Norway · Boys #471 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alfred has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Niels.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, 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
Niels
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #233 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: #201 among boys in Norway, in 1959 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #471 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys