Alexander vs Fergal
Alexander and Fergalcompared 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 Fergal #4270 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Alexander was ranked #48 and Fergal #334 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alexander was ranked #48 and Fergal #660 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Fergal over time
Alexander and Fergal appear together in 3 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Fergal in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Fergal 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1992, Alexander moved ahead of Fergal in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #113 and #111 the year before became #87 and #115.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Fergal were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 56 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #48 and #660.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 1964–2023
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Fergal in 27.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Fergal #46 in 1970.
The order changed in 1992: Alexander moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #113 and #111; by 1992 that had become #87 and #115.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alexander #48, Fergal #660.
England and Wales · Boys22 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Fergal in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Fergal #1130 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Fergal #4270.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 1997–2020
Alexander held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Fergal in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Fergal #151 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Alexander #48, Fergal #334.
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 | Fergal |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4270 (2024) |
| 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); Fergal does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Fergal.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Fergal doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Fergal 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
Fergal
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #93 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 recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #46 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1970 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4270 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys