Alexander vs Eoin
Alexander and Eoincompared 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 Eoin #404 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Eoin #945 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Eoin #71 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Eoin #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Eoin over time
Alexander and Eoin appear together in 4 published lists, across 135 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.
Eoin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Alexander 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Alexander moved into the top 50 at #29 in 2021 as Eoin fell out of it to #70, having been #46 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2021, Alexander moved ahead of Eoin in Northern Ireland · Boys — #48 and #46 the year before became #29 and #70.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Alexander and Eoin averaged 21.1 places apart, ending at #38 and #71.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Eoin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #55 and #106.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Eoin #398 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Eoin in 49.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Eoin #14 in 2004.
The order changed in 2013: Alexander moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #54 and #36; by 2013 that had become #39 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Eoin #106.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Eoin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Eoin #398 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Eoin #945.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Eoin in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Eoin #23 in 2004.
The order changed in 2021: Alexander moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #48 and #46; by 2021 that had become #29 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Eoin #71.
Scotland · Boys16 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Eoin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Eoin #404 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Eoin #404.
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 | Eoin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'defender of men' or 'protector of the people'. | Commonly interpreted as the Irish form of John, ultimately tracing to Hebrew elements for 'Yahweh' and 'to be gracious/show favour'. |
| Origin | Greek | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˌælɪɡˈzændər/ | /ˈoːnʲ/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 1 |
| 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 #106 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander is recorded with a Greek origin, while Eoin is recorded with a Irish origin.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for Eoin.
- Alexander's recorded meaning differs from Eoin's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Eoin 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
Eoin
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #83 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: #14 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys