Alexander vs Colum
Alexander and Columcompared 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 1999, Alexander was ranked #20 and Colum #2425 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Alexander was ranked #39 and Colum #605 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Alexander was ranked #49 and Colum #403 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alexander and Colum over time
Alexander and Colum appear together in 1 published list, across 49 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Colum in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Colum reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Alexander 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexander and Colum changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2013, ending at #39 and #605.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Colum were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 49 years, from 1964 to 2013, ending at #39 and #605.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #116 and #119 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2013 they were #39 and #605.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys49 shared years, 1964–2013
Alexander held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Colum in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #39 in 2013, Colum #115 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alexander #39, Colum #605.
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 | Colum |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #605 (2013) |
| 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); Colum does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Colum.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Colum 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 Colum 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
Colum
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #119 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 recorded1964–2013
Highest recorded position: #115 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2013).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2013
Most recently recorded at #605 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2013.
Republic of Ireland · Boys