Aidan vs Alexander
Aidan 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2014, Aidan was ranked #99 and Alexander #13 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Aidan was ranked #155 and Alexander #13 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2012, Aidan was ranked #87 and Alexander #14 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Aidan was ranked #255 and Alexander #36 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Aidan was ranked #136 and Alexander #38 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Aidan was ranked #82 and Alexander #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Aidan and Alexander over time
Aidan and Alexander appear together in 5 published lists, across 161 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Aidan 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.
Aidan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Alexander in 2. 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 2013, Alexander moved ahead of Aidan in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #50 and #54 the year before became #48 and #39.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Aidan and Alexander changed places 10 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #136 and #38.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Aidan and Alexander averaged 51.0 places apart, ending at #87 and #14.
- Longest-running competitions
Aidan and Alexander were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #82 and #55.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Aidan held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Alexander in 22.
Highest recorded here: Aidan #33 in 1965, Alexander #31 in 2018.
The order changed in 2013: Alexander moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #50 and #54; by 2013 that had become #48 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aidan #82, Alexander #55.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Aidan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Alexander in 29.
Highest recorded here: Aidan #67 in 2002, Alexander #14 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aidan #255, Alexander #36.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Aidan held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Alexander in 22.
Highest recorded here: Aidan #43 in 2011, Alexander #26 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aidan #136, Alexander #38.
New Zealand · Boys22 shared years, 1993–2014
Aidan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Alexander in 22.
Highest recorded here: Aidan #54 in 2001, Alexander #13 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Aidan #99, Alexander #13.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys20 shared years, 1993–2012
Aidan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Alexander in 20.
Highest recorded here: Aidan #50 in 2008, Alexander #14 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Aidan #87, Alexander #14.
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 | Aidan | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #82 (2025) | United Kingdom #11 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Aidan does not have one recorded yet.
- Aidan has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Alexander.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Aidan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Aidan 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
Aidan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #37 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #33 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #82 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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