Alexander vs Barry
Alexander and Barrycompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Barry #3254 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Alexander was ranked #47 and Barry #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Barry #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1971, Alexander was ranked #100 and Barry #68 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1973, Alexander was ranked #78 and Barry #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Alexander and Barry over time
Alexander and Barry appear together in 5 published lists, across 143 years of shared records. Barry held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alexander in 2.
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.
Barry reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1972, Alexander moved ahead of Barry in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #83 and #82 the year before became #70 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Barry were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #55 and #402.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Barry #441 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Barry in 34.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Barry #17 in 1985.
The order changed in 1998: Alexander moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #82 and #76; by 1998 that had become #75 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Barry #402.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Barry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Barry #441 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Barry #3254.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2022
Alexander held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Barry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Barry #90 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alexander #47, Barry #414.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys18 shared years, 1952–1973
Alexander held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Barry in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #70 in 1972, Barry #30 in 1952.
The order changed in 1972: Alexander moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #83 and #82; by 1972 that had become #70 and #100.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Alexander #78, Barry #97.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1954–1971
Alexander held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Barry in 14.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #73 in 1954, Barry #24 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Alexander #100, Barry #68.
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 | Barry |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (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); Barry does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Barry.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Barry doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Barry 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
Barry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys