Alexander vs Francis
Alexander and Franciscompared 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 Francis #352 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Francis #193 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Francis #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Francis #309 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #81 and Francis #316 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1961, Alexander was ranked #87 and Francis #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1964, Alexander was ranked #99 and Francis #93 among boys in New Zealand.
Alexander and Francis over time
Alexander and Francis appear together in 6 published lists, across 180 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Francis in 1.
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.
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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1994, Alexander moved ahead of Francis in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #86 and #80 the year before became #79 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Francis were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #55 and #309.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Francis #188 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Francis in 30.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Francis #16 in 1964.
The order changed in 1994: Alexander moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #86 and #80; by 1994 that had become #79 and #85.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Francis #309.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Francis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Francis #188 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Francis #193.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Francis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Francis #100 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Francis #278.
Norway · Boys26 shared years, 1960–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Francis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Francis #316 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #81, Francis #316.
Scotland · Boys26 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Francis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Francis #352 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Francis #352.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 1952–1961
Alexander held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Francis in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #80 in 1952, Francis #72 in 1953.
The order changed in 1960: Alexander moved ahead. In 1959 they stood at #87 and #84; by 1960 that had become #81 and #90.
Most recent shared year, 1961: Alexander #87, Francis #93.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Alexander
Pairs where Alexander shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Alexander vs Garry
In 1964 they stood at #116 and #114 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2009 they were #50 and #701.
Alexander · Garry · 45 shared years, 1964–2009 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alexander vs Roger
In 1964 they stood at #116 and #113 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2021 they were #43 and #631.
Alexander · Roger · 41 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Alexander
In 1997 they stood at #68 and #60 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2015 they were #415 and #46.
Craig · Alexander · 17 shared years, 1997–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alexander vs Steven
In 1997 they stood at #60 and #59 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2022 they were #47 and #414.
Alexander · Steven · 24 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Francis
Pairs where Francis shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Daniel vs Francis
In 1964 they stood at #19 and #16 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #309.
Daniel · Francis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Thomas vs Francis
In 1964 they stood at #6 and #16 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #16 and #309.
Thomas · Francis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Adrian vs Francis
Adrian and Francis changed places 20 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #348 and #309.
Adrian · Francis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Francis vs Noel
Francis and Noel changed places 14 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #309 and #402.
Francis · Noel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Alexander | Francis |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #309 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Francis does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Francis.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Francis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Francis 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
Francis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #74 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #316 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys