Alexander vs Brent
Alexander and Brentcompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1992, Alexander was ranked #14 and Brent #92 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2022, Alexander was ranked #28 and Brent #3449 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1987, Alexander was ranked #35 and Brent #97 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2000, Alexander was ranked #68 and Brent #244 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alexander and Brent over time
Alexander and Brent appear together in 3 published lists, across 66 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Brent in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Brent reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 1982, Alexander moved ahead of Brent in New Zealand · Boys — #80 and #55 the year before became #57 and #70.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander and Brent averaged 40.1 places apart, ending at #35 and #97.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Brent #571 in 1998.
List by list
New Zealand · Boys26 shared years, 1954–1987
Alexander held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Brent in 19.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #35 in 1987, Brent #26 in 1964.
The order changed in 1982: Alexander moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #80 and #55; by 1982 that had become #57 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Alexander #35, Brent #97.
England and Wales · Boys24 shared years, 1996–2022
Alexander held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Brent in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Brent #571 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alexander #28, Brent #3449.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys16 shared years, 1974–1992
Alexander held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Brent in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1992, Brent #72 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Alexander #14, Brent #92.
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 Brent
Pairs where Brent shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Tony vs Brent
Tony and Brent changed places 13 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1987, ending at #58 and #97.
Tony · Brent · 34 shared years, 1954–1987 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Jason vs Brent
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Brent #22 in 1968.
Jason · Brent · 22 shared years, 1966–1987 · Peaked in the same years
- Matthew vs Brent
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #1 in 1984, Brent #72 in 1983.
Matthew · Brent · 16 shared years, 1974–1992 · Peaked in the same years
- Michael vs Brent
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Michael #1 in 1968, Brent #22 in 1968.
Michael · Brent · 34 shared years, 1954–1987 · Peaked in the same years
Side by side
| Field | Alexander | Brent |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #3449 (2022) |
| 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); Brent does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for Brent.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Brent doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Brent 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
Brent
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #67 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1987
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1954–1987).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2022
Most recently recorded at #3449 among boys in England and Wales, in 2022.
England and Wales · Boys