Alfred vs Owen
Alfred and Owencompared 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 Owen #155 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alfred was ranked #278 and Owen #95 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alfred was ranked #272 and Owen #169 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alfred was ranked #286 and Owen #317 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alfred and Owen over time
Alfred and Owen appear together in 3 published lists, across 87 years of shared records. Owen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alfred in 0.
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.
Owen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Alfred in 1. 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2016, Alfred moved ahead of Owen in England and Wales · Boys — #114 and #101 the year before became #111 and #113.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Alfred rose about as far as Owen fell — from #218 and #100 in 1996 to #81 and #155 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Alfred and Owen were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 45 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #286 and #317.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Alfred #262 in 2009, Owen #63 in 2008.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1964–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Owen in 44.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #134 in 1964, Owen #68 in 1978.
The order changed in 2025: Alfred moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #430 and #374; by 2025 that had become #286 and #317.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #286, Owen #317.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alfred held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Owen in 20.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #76 in 2023, Owen #31 in 2002.
The order changed in 2016: Alfred moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #114 and #101; by 2016 that had become #111 and #113.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alfred #81, Owen #155.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2008–2023
Alfred held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Owen in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #262 in 2009, Owen #63 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alfred #272, Owen #169.
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 | Owen |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #26 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #317 (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 and Owen both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Owen
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #31 among boys in England and Wales, in 2002 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #317 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys