Alexander vs Darren
Alexander and Darrencompared 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 Darren #535 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1989, Alexander was ranked #17 and Darren #85 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Darren #1108 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Darren #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Darren #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1982, Alexander was ranked #57 and Darren #83 among boys in New Zealand.
Alexander and Darren over time
Alexander and Darren appear together in 6 published lists, across 173 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Darren reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1980, Alexander moved ahead of Darren in New Zealand · Boys — #81 and #64 the year before became #75 and #90.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Darren averaged 44.3 places apart, ending at #17 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Darren were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 60 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #55 and #676.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Darren #123 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #60 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #38 and #404.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1966–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Darren in 33.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Darren #18 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Darren #676.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Darren in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Darren #123 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Darren #1108.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1960–1989
Alexander held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Darren in 17.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #17 in 1989, Darren #12 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Alexander #17, Darren #85.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Darren in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2018, Darren #52 in 1997.
The order changed in 1998: Alexander moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #60 and #52; by 1998 that had become #52 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Darren #404.
Scotland · Boys22 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Darren in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Darren #535 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Darren #535.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1964–1982
Alexander held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Darren in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #57 in 1982, Darren #13 in 1965.
The order changed in 1980: Alexander moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #81 and #64; by 1980 that had become #75 and #90.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Alexander #57, Darren #83.
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 | Darren |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'defender of men' or 'protector of the people'. | Exact meaning uncertain — may derive from a rare Irish surname, or be a variant of Darrell. Popularized in the late 1950s by actor Darren McGavin and in the 1960s by the character Darrin Stephens from Bewitched. |
| Origin | Greek | Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell) |
| Pronunciation | /ˌælɪɡˈzændər/ | /ˈdæɹ.ən/ |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Greek origin, while Darren is recorded with a Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell) origin.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Darren.
- Alexander's recorded meaning differs from Darren's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Darren 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
Darren
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #83 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 recorded1960–1989
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1960–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys