Aengus vs Alexander
Aengus and Alexandercompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Aengus was ranked #3254 and Alexander #36 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Aengus was ranked #711 and Alexander #39 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Aengus and Alexander over time
Aengus and Alexander appear together in 2 published lists, across 39 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Aengus in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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.
- Longest-running competitions
Aengus and Alexander were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 30 years, from 1964 to 2013, ending at #711 and #39.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1964–2013
Aengus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Alexander in 30.
Highest recorded here: Aengus #200 in 1973, Alexander #39 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Aengus #711, Alexander #39.
England and Wales · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2024
Aengus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Alexander in 9.
Highest recorded here: Aengus #1821 in 1998, Alexander #16 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aengus #3254, Alexander #36.
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 | Aengus | Alexander |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'defender of men' or 'protector of the people'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˌælɪɡˈzændər/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Alex, Xander, Sasha, Alessandro |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #3254 (2024) | United Kingdom #11 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Aengus does not have one recorded yet.
- Aengus has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Alexander.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Aengus doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
- The available evidence gives Aengus a "medium" Data Confidence level and Alexander a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Aengus
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #204 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2013
Highest recorded position: #200 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1973 (recorded 1964–2013).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3254 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Alexander
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #320 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2014 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys