Alfred vs Ultan
Alfred and Ultancompared 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 2021, Alfred was ranked #80 and Ultan #4789 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alfred was ranked #272 and Ultan #272 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alfred was ranked #286 and Ultan #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alfred and Ultan over time
Alfred and Ultan appear together in 2 published lists, across 57 years of shared records. Ultan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alfred in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alfred reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Ultan 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 Ultan changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 2008 and 2023, ending at #272 and #272.
- Longest-running competitions
Alfred and Ultan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 45 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #286 and #829.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1964–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Ultan in 30.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #134 in 1964, Ultan #146 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #286, Ultan #829.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2008–2023
Alfred held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Ultan in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #262 in 2009, Ultan #249 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alfred #272, Ultan #272.
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 | Ultan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #26 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (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 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alfred and Ultan both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Ultan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #181 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #146 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys