Allan vs Russell
Allan and Russellcompared 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 Russell #83 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1985, Allan was ranked #93 and Russell #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Allan was ranked #646 and Russell #764 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Allan was ranked #3684 and Russell #953 among boys in England and Wales.
Allan and Russell over time
Allan and Russell appear together in 4 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Allan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Russell in 1.
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 Russell 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 1970, Russell moved ahead of Allan in New Zealand · Boys — #74 and #91 the year before became #86 and #76.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Allan and Russell changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1985, ending at #93 and #97.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Allan and Russell averaged 10.4 places apart, ending at #93 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Allan and Russell were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3684 and #953.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Allan #489 in 1996, Russell #257 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1964–2019
Allan held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Russell in 4.
Highest recorded here: Allan #121 in 1974, Russell #205 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Allan #646, Russell #764.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Allan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Russell in 30.
Highest recorded here: Allan #489 in 1996, Russell #257 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Allan #3684, Russell #953.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys29 shared years, 1952–1985
Allan held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Russell in 3.
Highest recorded here: Allan #31 in 1952, Russell #46 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Allan #93, Russell #97.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 1954–1971
Allan held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Russell in 5.
Highest recorded here: Allan #32 in 1958, Russell #37 in 1959.
The order changed in 1970: Russell moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #74 and #91; by 1970 that had become #86 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Allan #96, Russell #83.
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 | Russell |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #418 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #953 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Allan and Russell 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 #3684 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Russell
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #49 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 recorded1954–1979
Highest recorded position: #37 among boys in New Zealand, in 1959 (recorded 1954–1979).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #953 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys