Alexander vs Gavin
Alexander and Gavincompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1988, Alexander was ranked #19 and Gavin #92 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Gavin #898 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Alexander was ranked #48 and Gavin #270 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Gavin #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1980, Alexander was ranked #75 and Gavin #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Alexander and Gavin over time
Alexander and Gavin appear together in 5 published lists, across 154 years of shared records. Gavin 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.
Gavin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1978, Alexander moved ahead of Gavin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #61 and #58 the year before became #57 and #64.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexander and Gavin changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #55 and #348.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Gavin averaged 26.2 places apart, ending at #19 and #92.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Gavin fell — from #116 and #232 in 1964 to #55 and #348 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Gavin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #55 and #348.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Gavin #185 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #60 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2020 they were #48 and #270.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Gavin in 35.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Gavin #32 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Gavin #348.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Gavin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Gavin #185 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Gavin #898.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys25 shared years, 1962–1988
Alexander held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Gavin in 14.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #19 in 1988, Gavin #40 in 1973.
The order changed in 1978: Alexander moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #61 and #58; by 1978 that had become #57 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Alexander #19, Gavin #92.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1954–1980
Alexander held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Gavin in 18.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #73 in 1954, Gavin #52 in 1971.
The order changed in 1980: Alexander moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #81 and #66; by 1980 that had become #75 and #100.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Alexander #75, Gavin #100.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 1997–2020
Alexander held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Gavin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2018, Gavin #66 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Alexander #48, Gavin #270.
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 | Gavin |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (2025) |
| 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); Gavin does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Gavin.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Gavin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Gavin 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
Gavin
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #70 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #32 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1994 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys