Alexander vs Devin
Alexander and Devincompared 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 Devin #727 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Alexander was ranked #26 and Devin #315 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Devin #1199 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #44 and Devin #472 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Devin over time
Alexander and Devin appear together in 3 published lists, across 83 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Devin 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 33 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Devin fell — from #127 and #304 in 1985 to #44 and #472 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Devin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 33 years, from 1985 to 2024, ending at #44 and #472.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #12 in 2024, Devin #727 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1985–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Devin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Devin #208 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #44, Devin #472.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Devin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Devin #794 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Devin #1199.
Scotland · Boys21 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Devin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Devin #727 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Devin #727.
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 | Devin |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #472 (2024) |
| 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); Devin does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Devin.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Devin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Devin 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
Devin
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #304 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1985–2024
Highest recorded position: #208 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2012 (recorded 1985–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls