Alexander vs Fionn
Alexander and Fionncompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Fionn #6 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #13 and Fionn #330 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Fionn #26 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #40 and Fionn #658 among boys in England and Wales.
Alexander and Fionn over time
Alexander and Fionn appear together in 4 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Fionn in 0.
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.
Alexander reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Fionn in none. 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, Fionn moved into the top 50 at #34 in 2023 as Alexander fell out of it to #70, having been #47 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2023, Fionn moved ahead of Alexander in Northern Ireland · Boys — #47 and #51 the year before became #70 and #34.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexander and Fionn changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1999 and 2024, ending at #38 and #26.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Alexander and Fionn averaged 40.9 places apart, ending at #38 and #26.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Fionn were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #40 and #658.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #12 in 2024, Fionn #330 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys51 shared years, 1971–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Fionn in 23.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Fionn #6 in 2023.
The order changed in 2004: Fionn moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #49 and #66; by 2004 that had become #59 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Fionn #6.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Fionn in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Fionn #555 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #40, Fionn #658.
Scotland · Boys29 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Fionn in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Fionn #330 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Fionn #330.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1999–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Fionn in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Fionn #26 in 2024.
The order changed in 2023: Fionn moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #47 and #51; by 2023 that had become #70 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Fionn #26.
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 | Fionn |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'defender of men' or 'protector of the people'. | Traditionally interpreted as 'white' or 'fair', extending in Old Irish usage to 'bright' and figuratively 'true, just'. Strongly associated with the mythological hero Fionn mac Cumhaill. |
| Origin | Greek | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˌælɪɡˈzændər/ | /ˈfɪn/ |
| 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 #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Greek origin, while Fionn is recorded with a Irish origin.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for Fionn.
- Alexander's recorded meaning differs from Fionn'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 Fionn 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 #40 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Fionn
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #257 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — 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: #6 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 1971–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #658 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys