Alexander vs Angus
Alexander and Anguscompared 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 Angus #38 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #22 and Angus #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Alexander was ranked #33 and Angus #83 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Angus #323 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Angus #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #44 and Angus #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Angus over time
Alexander and Angus appear together in 6 published lists, across 164 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Angus in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Angus reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Alexander in 1. 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 36 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Angus averaged 48.2 places apart, ending at #22 and #75.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Angus were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 36 years, from 1990 to 2025, ending at #22 and #75.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Angus #137 in 1998.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys36 shared years, 1990–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Angus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #8 in 2014, Angus #35 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #22, Angus #75.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Angus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Angus #137 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Angus #323.
New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1995–2023
Alexander held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Angus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #13 in 2014, Angus #53 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alexander #33, Angus #83.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1997–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Angus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Angus #186 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Angus #404.
Scotland · Boys23 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Angus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Angus #38 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Angus #38.
Republic of Ireland · Boys22 shared years, 1964–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Angus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #40 in 2020, Angus #194 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #44, Angus #785.
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 | Angus |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #75 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Angus does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Angus.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Angus 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 Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Angus 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
Angus
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #232 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 recorded1990–2025
Highest recorded position: #35 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2008 (recorded 1990–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys