Alexander vs Bear
Alexander and Bearcompared 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 Bear #432 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Alexander was ranked #29 and Bear #326 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Bear #519 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Bear #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Bear over time
Alexander and Bear appear together in 2 published lists, across 36 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Bear in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alexander reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Bear 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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #12 in 2024, Bear #432 in 2024.
List by list
Scotland · Boys19 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Bear in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Bear #432 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Bear #432.
England and Wales · Boys17 shared years, 2007–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Bear in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #21 in 2010, Bear #342 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Bear #519.
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 | Bear |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Alex, Xander, Sasha, Alessandro | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Bear does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for Bear.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Bear doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Bear 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
Bear
Popularity journey
First recorded2007
First recorded at #3095 among boys in England and Wales in 2007 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys