Alexander vs Ciaron
Alexander and Ciaroncompared 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 2011, Alexander was ranked #23 and Ciaron #4647 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2004, Alexander was ranked #60 and Ciaron #235 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1985, Alexander was ranked #127 and Ciaron #269 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Ciaron over time
Alexander and Ciaron appear together in 1 published list, across 16 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Ciaron 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 Ciaron 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys16 shared years, 1996–2011
Alexander held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Ciaron in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Ciaron #918 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Alexander #23, Ciaron #4647.
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 | Ciaron |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4647 (2011) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Ciaron does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Ciaron.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Ciaron doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Ciaron 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
Ciaron
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #250 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2001–2004
Highest recorded position: #235 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 2001–2004).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2011
Most recently recorded at #4647 among boys in England and Wales, in 2011.
England and Wales · Boys