Alexander vs Damian
Alexander and Damiancompared 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 Damian #432 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Damian #271 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1981, Alexander was ranked #42 and Damian #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Alexander was ranked #48 and Damian #304 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Alexander was ranked #52 and Damian #87 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Damian #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #81 and Damian #339 among boys in Norway.
Alexander and Damian over time
Alexander and Damian appear together in 7 published lists, across 208 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Damian 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.
Damian reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 1990, Alexander moved ahead of Damian in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #116 and #108 the year before became #105 and #120.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Damian were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 52 years, from 1968 to 2025, ending at #81 and #339.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #12 in 1987, Damian #149 in 1985.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Damian in 25.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Damian #46 in 1969.
The order changed in 1990: Alexander moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #116 and #108; by 1990 that had become #105 and #120.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Damian #223.
Norway · Boys52 shared years, 1968–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Damian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Damian #149 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #81, Damian #339.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Damian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Damian #253 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Damian #271.
Scotland · Boys26 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Damian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Damian #432 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Damian #432.
Northern Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1997–2020
Alexander held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Damian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2018, Damian #160 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Alexander #48, Damian #304.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys12 shared years, 1970–1981
Alexander held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Damian in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #40 in 1980, Damian #64 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Alexander #42, Damian #97.
New Zealand · Boys9 shared years, 1976–1985
Alexander held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Damian in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #52 in 1985, Damian #58 in 1982.
The order changed in 1982: Alexander moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #80 and #61; by 1982 that had become #57 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Alexander #52, Damian #87.
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
Side by side
| Field | Alexander | Damian |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #223 (2025) |
| 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); Damian does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Damian.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Damian doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Damian 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
Damian
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #73 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: #46 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #339 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys