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 #13 and Andrew #104 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Alexander was ranked #28 and Andrew #75 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Andrew #315 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Andrew #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.
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 7 published lists, across 305 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Andrew in 3.
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 New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 60 years, from 1952 to 2016, ending at #9 and #89.
- 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 · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 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, 2024: Alexander #36, Andrew #315.
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.
Scotland · Boys20 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Andrew in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Andrew #104 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Andrew #104.
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 | Alexander | Andrew |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly 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. |
| Origin | Greek | Greek, biblical |
| Pronunciation | /ˌælɪɡˈzændər/ | /ˈæn.dɹuː/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Alex, Xander, Sasha, Alessandro | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
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
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
Andrew
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1954–2013
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys