Alexander vs Derrick
Alexander and Derrickcompared 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 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Derrick #2088 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Derrick #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Derrick over time
Alexander and Derrick appear together in 2 published lists, across 56 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Derrick in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Derrick were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 32 years, from 1964 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, Derrick #1257 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys32 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Derrick in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #39 in 2017, Derrick #137 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Derrick #676.
England and Wales · Boys24 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Derrick in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Derrick #1257 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Derrick #2088.
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 | Derrick |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Derrick does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Derrick.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Derrick doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Derrick 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
Derrick
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #232 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: #137 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys