Namewise

Alexander vs Andrew

Alexander and Andrewcompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2016, Alexander was ranked #9 and Andrew #89 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Alexander was ranked #12 and Andrew #104 among boys in Scotland.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2013, Alexander was ranked #28 and Andrew #75 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Andrew #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Alexander was ranked #40 and Andrew #334 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Andrew #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2021, Alexander was ranked #61 and Andrew #458 among boys in Norway.

Alexander and Andrew over time

Alexander and Andrew appear together in 6 published lists, across 286 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Andrew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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.

  • One took the other's place near the top

    In Northern Ireland · Boys, Alexander moved into the top 50 at #41 in 2008 as Andrew fell out of it to #80, having been #33 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1996, Alexander moved ahead of Andrew in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #18 and #15 the year before became #20 and #22.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Alexander and Andrew changed places 4 times in Norway · Boys between 1948 and 2021, ending at #61 and #458.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Andrew averaged 41.3 places apart, ending at #9 and #89.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #80 and #51 in 1952 to #9 and #89 in 2016.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Alexander and Andrew were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #40 and #334.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Andrew #29 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Alexander held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Andrew in 45.

    Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Andrew #16 in 1992.

    The order changed in 2009: Alexander moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #45 and #41; by 2009 that had become #50 and #58.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Andrew #106.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys60 shared years, 1952–2016

    Alexander held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Andrew in 40.

    Highest recorded here: Alexander #9 in 2016, Andrew #4 in 1970.

    The order changed in 1996: Alexander moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #18 and #15; by 1996 that had become #20 and #22.

    Most recent shared year, 2016: Alexander #9, Andrew #89.

  • Norway · Boys56 shared years, 1948–2021

    Alexander held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Andrew in 6.

    Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Andrew #206 in 1963.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Alexander #61, Andrew #458.

  • New Zealand · Boys50 shared years, 1954–2013

    Alexander held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Andrew in 35.

    Highest recorded here: Alexander #19 in 1994, Andrew #2 in 1977.

    The order changed in 1997: Alexander moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #21 and #20; by 1997 that had become #21 and #22.

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Alexander #28, Andrew #75.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Alexander held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Andrew in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Andrew #29 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #40, Andrew #334.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Alexander held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Andrew in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Andrew #5 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2008: Alexander moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #40 and #33; by 2008 that had become #41 and #80.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Andrew #216.

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.

Other comparisons involving Andrew

Pairs where Andrew shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alexander, Andrew
FieldAlexanderAndrew
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningCommonly interpreted as 'defender of men' or 'protector of the people'.The English form of Greek Andreas, from 'andreios' ('manly, masculine'), itself from 'aner' ('man'). The apostle Andrew was the first disciple to join Jesus and is patron saint of Scotland.
OriginGreekGreek, biblical
Pronunciation/ˌælɪɡˈzændər//ˈæn.dɹuː/
Syllables42
Common variants / nicknamesAlex, Xander, Sasha, AlessandroNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationUnited Kingdom #11 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)65/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)70/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Alexander is recorded with a Greek origin, while Andrew is recorded with a Greek, biblical origin.
  • Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Andrew.
  • Alexander's recorded meaning differs from Andrew's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Andrew 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–2025

    Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2014 (recorded 1952–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #40 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Andrew

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #344 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1954–2013

    Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–2013).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #334 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys