Namewise

Allan vs Mark

Allan and Markcompared 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 1977, Allan was ranked #87 and Mark #5 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1985, Allan was ranked #93 and Mark #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 1998, Allan was ranked #207 and Mark #17 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2019, Allan was ranked #646 and Mark #94 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Allan was ranked #1951 and Mark #277 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Allan was ranked #418 and Mark #286 among boys in Norway.

Allan and Mark over time

Allan and Mark appear together in 5 published lists, across 182 years of shared records. Mark held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Allan 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.

Allan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Mark 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

    Allan and Mark changed places 17 times in Norway · Boys between 1950 and 2025, ending at #418 and #286.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Allan and Mark averaged 55.3 places apart, ending at #93 and #15.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Allan and Mark were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 30 years, from 1952 to 1985, ending at #93 and #15.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Allan #489 in 1996, Mark #55 in 1996.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys57 shared years, 19502025

    Allan held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Mark in 39.

    Highest recorded here: Allan #221 in 1956, Mark #211 in 1970.

    The order changed in 2025: Mark moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #476 and #530; by 2025 that had become #418 and #286.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Allan #418, Mark #286.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys46 shared years, 19642019

    Allan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mark in 46.

    Highest recorded here: Allan #121 in 1974, Mark #7 in 1974.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Allan #646, Mark #94.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys30 shared years, 19521985

    Allan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mark in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Allan #31 in 1952, Mark #2 in 1960.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1985: Allan #93, Mark #15.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Allan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mark in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Allan #489 in 1996, Mark #55 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Allan #1951, Mark #277.

  • New Zealand · Boys20 shared years, 19541977

    Allan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mark in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Allan #32 in 1958, Mark #4 in 1969.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1977: Allan #87, Mark #5.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Allan, Mark
FieldAllanMark
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedA form of the Latin name Marcus used in several languages. Saint Mark authored the second Gospel and is patron saint of Venice.
OriginNot yet recordedLatin
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈmɑɹk/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #418 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #99 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Mark has a recorded origin (Latin); Allan does not have one recorded yet.
  • Allan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Mark.
  • A meaning is recorded for Mark; Allan doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Allan

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1985

    Highest recorded position: #31 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1985).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #418 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Mark

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1950

    First recorded at #362 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1952–2001

    Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1960 (recorded 1952–2001).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys