Alistair vs Ivan
Alistair and Ivancompared 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1959, Alistair was ranked #95 and Ivan #99 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alistair was ranked #246 and Ivan #268 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Alistair was ranked #403 and Ivan #273 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alistair was ranked #545 and Ivan #274 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alistair was ranked #509 and Ivan #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alistair and Ivan over time
Alistair and Ivan appear together in 2 published lists, across 56 years of shared records. Ivan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alistair 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alistair held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Ivan in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alistair #133 in 1996, Ivan #248 in 2022.
The order changed in 2009: Ivan moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #358 and #387; by 2009 that had become #391 and #349.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alistair #545, Ivan #274.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1969–2025
Alistair held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ivan in 27.
Highest recorded here: Alistair #245 in 1979, Ivan #91 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alistair #509, Ivan #348.
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 | Alistair | Ivan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Slavic form of John, commonly interpreted as 'God is gracious'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Old Church Slavic, via Greek Ioannes |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈaɪvən/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) | Norway · Boys #235 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ivan has a recorded origin (Old Church Slavic, via Greek Ioannes); Alistair does not have one recorded yet.
- Alistair has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Ivan.
- A meaning is recorded for Ivan; Alistair doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Alistair
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #97 among boys in New Zealand in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1956–1964
Highest recorded position: #87 among boys in New Zealand, in 1958 (recorded 1956–1964).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Ivan
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #192 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1959
Highest recorded position: #83 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1959).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #235 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys