Alexander vs Danny
Alexander and Dannycompared 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 Danny #234 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1990, Alexander was ranked #19 and Danny #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Danny #514 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2017, Alexander was ranked #36 and Danny #498 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Danny #78 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Danny #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Danny over time
Alexander and Danny appear together in 6 published lists, across 172 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Danny in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alexander reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Danny 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexander and Danny changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1960 and 1990, ending at #19 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Danny were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 32 years, from 1964 to 2017, ending at #36 and #498.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Danny #98 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys49 shared years, 1970–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Danny in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Danny #41 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Danny #76.
Norway · Boys32 shared years, 1964–2017
Alexander held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Danny in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Danny #359 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Alexander #36, Danny #498.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Danny in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Danny #98 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Danny #514.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Danny in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Danny #67 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Danny #78.
Scotland · Boys20 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Danny in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Danny #234 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Danny #234.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1960–1990
Alexander held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Danny in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #17 in 1989, Danny #81 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1990: Alexander #19, Danny #97.
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 | Danny |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #76 (2025) |
| 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); Danny does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Danny.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Danny doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Danny 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
Danny
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1970–2025
Highest recorded position: #41 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 1970–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys