Allan vs Donald
Allan and Donaldcompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1969, Allan was ranked #69 and Donald #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1969, Allan was ranked #74 and Donald #95 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Allan was ranked #646 and Donald #764 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Allan was ranked #3684 and Donald #1466 among boys in England and Wales.
Allan and Donald over time
Allan and Donald appear together in 4 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Allan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Donald 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.
Donald reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Allan 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Allan and Donald changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #3684 and #1466.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Allan and Donald averaged 39.6 places apart, ending at #646 and #764.
- Longest-running competitions
Allan and Donald were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3684 and #1466.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Allan #489 in 1996, Donald #680 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys31 shared years, 1964–2019
Allan held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Donald in 11.
Highest recorded here: Allan #121 in 1974, Donald #96 in 1965.
The order changed in 2010: Allan moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #423 and #423; by 2010 that had become #611 and #720.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Allan #646, Donald #764.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Allan held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Donald in 7.
Highest recorded here: Allan #489 in 1996, Donald #680 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Donald moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1799 and #2813; by 2024 that had become #1951 and #1595.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Allan #3684, Donald #1466.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 1952–1969
Allan held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Donald in 0.
Highest recorded here: Allan #31 in 1952, Donald #40 in 1953.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Allan #69, Donald #94.
New Zealand · Boys16 shared years, 1954–1969
Allan held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Donald in 1.
Highest recorded here: Allan #32 in 1958, Donald #34 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Allan #74, Donald #95.
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 | Donald |
|---|---|---|
| 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-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #418 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #1466 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Allan and Donald both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, 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 #3684 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Donald
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #45 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 recorded1954–1969
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1969).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1466 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys