Allan vs Philip
Allan and Philipcompared 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 Philip #48 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1998, Allan was ranked #207 and Philip #67 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1985, Allan was ranked #93 and Philip #89 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Allan was ranked #418 and Philip #91 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Allan was ranked #646 and Philip #214 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Allan was ranked #3684 and Philip #549 among boys in England and Wales.
Allan and Philip over time
Allan and Philip appear together in 5 published lists, across 178 years of shared records. Philip 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 4 of those lists, and Philip 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1987, Philip moved ahead of Allan in Norway · Boys — #280 and #300 the year before became #338 and #171.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Allan and Philip changed places 7 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1985, ending at #93 and #89.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Allan and Philip averaged 11.9 places apart, ending at #93 and #89.
- Mirrored each other
Over 52 shared years in Norway · Boys, Philip rose about as far as Allan fell — from #271 and #341 in 1948 to #418 and #91 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Allan and Philip were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3684 and #549.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Allan #489 in 1996, Philip #103 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys52 shared years, 1948–2025
Allan held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Philip in 29.
Highest recorded here: Allan #231 in 1967, Philip #77 in 2009.
The order changed in 1987: Philip moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #280 and #300; by 1987 that had become #338 and #171.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Allan #418, Philip #91.
Republic of Ireland · Boys46 shared years, 1964–2019
Allan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Philip in 46.
Highest recorded here: Allan #121 in 1974, Philip #30 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Allan #646, Philip #214.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Allan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Philip in 30.
Highest recorded here: Allan #489 in 1996, Philip #103 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Allan #3684, Philip #549.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys30 shared years, 1952–1985
Allan held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Philip in 24.
Highest recorded here: Allan #31 in 1952, Philip #29 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Allan #93, Philip #89.
New Zealand · Boys20 shared years, 1954–1977
Allan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Philip in 20.
Highest recorded here: Allan #32 in 1958, Philip #20 in 1963.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1977: Allan #87, Philip #48.
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 | Philip |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #418 (2025) | Norway · Boys #91 (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 Philip both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, 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
Philip
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #341 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New Zealand, in 1963 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #549 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys