Alexander vs Brendan
Alexander and Brendancompared 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 Brendan #619 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2004, Alexander was ranked #17 and Brendan #92 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1991, Alexander was ranked #25 and Brendan #94 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Brendan #1402 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Brendan #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Brendan #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Brendan over time
Alexander and Brendan appear together in 6 published lists, across 197 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Brendan 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.
Brendan 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1983, Alexander moved ahead of Brendan in New Zealand · Boys — #57 and #53 the year before became #54 and #74.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexander and Brendan changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1965 and 2004, ending at #17 and #92.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Brendan averaged 22.9 places apart, ending at #17 and #92.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Brendan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 38 years, from 1965 to 2004, ending at #17 and #92.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Brendan #157 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Brendan in 34.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Brendan #16 in 1965.
The order changed in 1998: Alexander moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #82 and #73; by 1998 that had become #75 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Brendan #402.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys38 shared years, 1965–2004
Alexander held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Brendan in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1992, Brendan #25 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Alexander #17, Brendan #92.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Brendan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Brendan #157 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Brendan #1402.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Brendan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Brendan #73 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Brendan #404.
Scotland · Boys22 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Brendan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Brendan #619 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Brendan #619.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 1967–1991
Alexander held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Brendan in 8.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #25 in 1991, Brendan #53 in 1982.
The order changed in 1983: Alexander moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #57 and #53; by 1983 that had become #54 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Alexander #25, Brendan #94.
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 | Brendan |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Brendan does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Brendan.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Brendan 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 Brendan 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
Brendan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #17 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (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