Alexander vs Garry
Alexander and Garrycompared 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 Garry #727 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2023, Alexander was ranked #34 and Garry #4991 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2009, Alexander was ranked #50 and Garry #701 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2002, Alexander was ranked #60 and Garry #281 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1974, Alexander was ranked #69 and Garry #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1965, Alexander was ranked #100 and Garry #79 among boys in New Zealand.
Alexander and Garry over time
Alexander and Garry appear together in 5 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. Garry held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alexander in 2.
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.
Garry 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 1971, Alexander moved ahead of Garry in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #83 and #73 the year before became #74 and #86.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Garry averaged 45.3 places apart, ending at #69 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Garry were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 45 years, from 1964 to 2009, ending at #50 and #701.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Garry #573 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #116 and #114 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2009 they were #50 and #701.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1964–2009
Alexander held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Garry in 23.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #45 in 2008, Garry #79 in 1980.
The order changed in 1988: Alexander moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #128 and #115; by 1988 that had become #106 and #131.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Alexander #50, Garry #701.
England and Wales · Boys26 shared years, 1996–2023
Alexander held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Garry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Garry #573 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alexander #34, Garry #4991.
Scotland · Boys24 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Garry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Garry #727 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Garry #727.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys20 shared years, 1952–1974
Alexander held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Garry in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #69 in 1974, Garry #16 in 1957.
The order changed in 1971: Alexander moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #83 and #73; by 1971 that had become #74 and #86.
Most recent shared year, 1974: Alexander #69, Garry #98.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1954–1965
Alexander held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Garry in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #73 in 1954, Garry #38 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Alexander #100, Garry #79.
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 | Garry |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #727 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Greek); Garry does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Garry.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Garry doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Garry 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
Garry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #19 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 recorded1952–1974
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1974).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #4991 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Boys