Alister vs Graham
Alister and Grahamcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1997, Alister was ranked #271 and Graham #192 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alister was ranked #727 and Graham #727 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alister was ranked #3254 and Graham #5119 among boys in England and Wales.
Alister and Graham over time
Alister and Graham appear together in 1 published list, across 28 years of shared records. Graham held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Alister 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.
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
Alister and Graham changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #3254 and #5119.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alister #564 in 1996, Graham #341 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Alister held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Graham in 23.
Highest recorded here: Alister #564 in 1996, Graham #341 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Alister moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #4991 and #1533; by 2024 that had become #3254 and #5119.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alister #3254, Graham #5119.
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 Graham
Pairs where Graham shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Benjamin vs Graham
In 1964 they stood at #139 and #129 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #71 and #770.
Benjamin · Graham · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Samuel vs Graham
In 1964 they stood at #119 and #129 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #90 and #770.
Samuel · Graham · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jude vs Graham
In 1965 they stood at #129 and #137 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2023 they were #95 and #770.
Jude · Graham · 44 shared years, 1965–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Graham vs Marcus
In 1964 they stood at #129 and #136 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2023 they were #770 and #172.
Graham · Marcus · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Alister | Graham |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #727 (2024) | Scotland · Boys #727 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alister has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Graham.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT.
How each name got here
Alister
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #564 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3254 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Graham
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1979
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1979).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5119 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys