Allan vs Barry
Allan and Barrycompared 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 1971, Allan was ranked #96 and Barry #68 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1973, Allan was ranked #79 and Barry #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1998, Allan was ranked #207 and Barry #130 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Allan was ranked #646 and Barry #322 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Allan was ranked #1951 and Barry #3254 among boys in England and Wales.
Allan and Barry over time
Allan and Barry appear together in 4 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
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.
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 1964, Allan moved ahead of Barry in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #54 and #50 the year before became #52 and #53.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Allan and Barry changed places 11 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1951 and #3254.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Allan and Barry averaged 5.8 places apart, ending at #79 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Allan and Barry were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 46 years, from 1964 to 2019, ending at #646 and #322.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Allan #489 in 1996, Barry #441 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys46 shared years, 1964–2019
Allan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Barry in 46.
Highest recorded here: Allan #121 in 1974, Barry #17 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Allan #646, Barry #322.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Allan held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Barry in 7.
Highest recorded here: Allan #489 in 1996, Barry #441 in 1996.
The order changed in 2020: Allan moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #2266 and #2104; by 2020 that had become #1935 and #2404.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Allan #1951, Barry #3254.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1952–1973
Allan held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Barry in 8.
Highest recorded here: Allan #31 in 1952, Barry #30 in 1952.
The order changed in 1964: Allan moved ahead. In 1963 they stood at #54 and #50; by 1964 that had become #52 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Allan #79, Barry #97.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 1954–1971
Allan held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Barry in 14.
Highest recorded here: Allan #32 in 1958, Barry #24 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Allan #96, Barry #68.
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 | Allan | Barry |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #418 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Allan and Barry both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Allan
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #323 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1985
Highest recorded position: #31 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1985).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #418 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Barry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #30 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys