Alexander vs Arlo
Alexander and Arlo compared 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 2023, Alexander was ranked #33 and Arlo #12 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #12 and Arlo #18 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #40 and Arlo #15 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #22 and Arlo #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Arlo #45 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Arlo #54 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Arlo over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Alexander and Arlo over time
Alexander and Arlo appear together in 5 published lists, across 79 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Arlo in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Alexander reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Arlo 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2021, Arlo moved ahead of Alexander in England and Wales · Boys — #26 and #27 the year before became #27 and #20.
- Mirrored each other
Over 27 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Arlo rose about as far as Alexander fell — from #20 and #2943 in 1999 to #40 and #15 in 2025.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1999–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Arlo in 5.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #19 in 2002, Arlo #14 in 2023.
The order changed in 2021: Arlo moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #26 and #27; by 2021 that had become #27 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #40, Arlo #15.
Republic of Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 2009–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Arlo in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Arlo #48 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Arlo #54.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2011–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Arlo in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Arlo #40 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Arlo #45.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys11 shared years, 2015–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Arlo in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #9 in 2016, Arlo #19 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #22, Arlo #47.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 2013–2023
Alexander held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Arlo in 8.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #13 in 2014, Arlo #10 in 2017.
The order changed in 2016: Arlo moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #18 and #59; by 2016 that had become #31 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alexander #33, Arlo #12.
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
Other comparisons involving Arlo
Pairs where Arlo shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Arthur vs Arlo
Arthur and Arlo both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Arthur · Arlo · 27 shared years, 1999–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Theo vs Arlo
Theo and Arlo both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Theo · Arlo · 27 shared years, 1999–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Arlo vs Ezra
Arlo and Ezra both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Arlo · Ezra · 27 shared years, 1999–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Arlo vs Freddie
Arlo and Freddie both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Arlo · Freddie · 27 shared years, 1999–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Side by side
| Field | Alexander | Arlo |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'defender of men' or 'protector of the people'. | Meaning uncertain — likely derived by Edmund Spenser from the real Irish place name Aherlow ('between two highlands') for the fictional Arlo Hill in The Faerie Queene (1590). |
| Origin | Greek | Irish (place name origin, via literary adaptation) |
| Pronunciation | /ˌælɪɡˈzændər/ | /ˈɑɹ.loʊ/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Alex, Xander, Sasha, Alessandro | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #22 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #15 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander is recorded with a Greek origin, while Arlo is recorded with a Irish (place name origin, via literary adaptation) origin.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Arlo.
- Alexander's recorded meaning differs from Arlo's — see the table above for each.
- 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 Arlo 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 #40 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Arlo
Popularity journey
First recorded1999
First recorded at #2943 among boys in England and Wales in 1999 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2013–2023
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New Zealand, in 2017 (recorded 2013–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3035 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls