Alexander vs Edwin
Alexander and Edwincompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Alexander was ranked #26 and Edwin #398 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Edwin #434 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #44 and Edwin #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #81 and Edwin #166 among boys in Norway.
Alexander and Edwin over time
Alexander and Edwin appear together in 3 published lists, across 121 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Edwin in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alexander reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Edwin 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Edwin were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 45 years, from 1959 to 2025, ending at #81 and #166.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Edwin #386 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys47 shared years, 1964–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Edwin in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Edwin #138 in 1976.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #44, Edwin #785.
Norway · Boys45 shared years, 1959–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Edwin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1989, Edwin #135 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #81, Edwin #166.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Edwin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Edwin #386 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Edwin #434.
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 | Edwin |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Norway · Boys #166 (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); Edwin does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Edwin.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Edwin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Edwin 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
Edwin
Popularity journey
First recorded1959
First recorded at #420 among boys in Norway in 1959 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1959–2025
Highest recorded position: #135 among boys in Norway, in 2022 (recorded 1959–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #166 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys