Alexander vs Fabian
Alexander and Fabiancompared 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 Fabian #538 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Fabian #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alexander was ranked #70 and Fabian #272 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #81 and Fabian #223 among boys in Norway.
Alexander and Fabian over time
Alexander and Fabian appear together in 4 published lists, across 132 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Fabian in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 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 39 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Fabian fell — from #137 and #265 in 1967 to #55 and #509 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Fabian were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 51 years, from 1971 to 2025, ending at #81 and #223.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #26 in 2014, Fabian #188 in 2013.
List by list
Norway · Boys51 shared years, 1971–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Fabian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Fabian #110 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #81, Fabian #223.
Republic of Ireland · Boys39 shared years, 1967–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Fabian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Fabian #214 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Fabian #509.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Fabian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Fabian #266 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Fabian #538.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2005–2023
Alexander held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Fabian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Fabian #188 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alexander #70, Fabian #272.
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 | Fabian |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #223 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Greek); Fabian does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Fabian.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Fabian 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 Fabian 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
Fabian
Popularity journey
First recorded1967
First recorded at #265 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1967 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1971–2025
Highest recorded position: #110 among boys in Norway, in 2005 (recorded 1971–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #223 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys