Alexander vs Alistair
Alexander and Alistaircompared 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #13 and Alistair #246 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Alexander was ranked #30 and Alistair #365 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Alistair #545 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Alistair #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1964, Alexander was ranked #99 and Alistair #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Alexander and Alistair over time
Alexander and Alistair appear together in 4 published lists, across 95 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Alistair in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alistair reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Alexander 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 27 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Alistair fell — from #135 and #291 in 1969 to #55 and #509 in 2025.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Alistair #133 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Alistair in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Alistair #133 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Alistair #545.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1969–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Alistair in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #36 in 2019, Alistair #245 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Alistair #509.
Scotland · Boys26 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Alistair in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Alistair #246 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Alistair #246.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1997–2019
Alexander held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Alistair in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #30 in 2019, Alistair #179 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Alexander #30, Alistair #365.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Alexander
Pairs where Alexander shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Alexander vs Garry
In 1964 they stood at #116 and #114 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2009 they were #50 and #701.
Alexander · Garry · 45 shared years, 1964–2009 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alexander vs Roger
In 1964 they stood at #116 and #113 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2021 they were #43 and #631.
Alexander · Roger · 41 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Alexander
In 1997 they stood at #68 and #60 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2015 they were #415 and #46.
Craig · Alexander · 17 shared years, 1997–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alexander vs Steven
In 1997 they stood at #60 and #59 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2022 they were #47 and #414.
Alexander · Steven · 24 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Alexander | Alistair |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'defender of men' or 'protector of the people'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˌælɪɡˈzændər/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Alex, Xander, Sasha, Alessandro | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Alistair does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Alistair.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Alistair doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Alistair a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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
Alistair
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #97 among boys in New Zealand in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1956–1964
Highest recorded position: #87 among boys in New Zealand, in 1958 (recorded 1956–1964).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys