Alexander vs Glenn
Alexander and Glenncompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2012, Alexander was ranked #20 and Glenn #545 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1986, Alexander was ranked #29 and Glenn #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Glenn #5119 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Alexander was ranked #48 and Glenn #343 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1983, Alexander was ranked #54 and Glenn #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Glenn #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Glenn over time
Alexander and Glenn appear together in 6 published lists, across 205 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Glenn in 2.
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.
Glenn reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Alexander 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1978, Alexander moved ahead of Glenn in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #61 and #50 the year before became #57 and #61.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexander and Glenn changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #55 and #829.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Glenn averaged 44.8 places apart, ending at #29 and #99.
- Mirrored each other
Over 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Glenn fell — from #80 and #50 in 1952 to #29 and #99 in 1986.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Glenn were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1952 to 1986, ending at #29 and #99.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Glenn #278 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys57 shared years, 1948–2012
Alexander held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Glenn in 22.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Glenn #57 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Alexander #20, Glenn #545.
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Glenn in 20.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Glenn #92 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Glenn #829.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1986
Alexander held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Glenn in 23.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #29 in 1986, Glenn #16 in 1962.
The order changed in 1978: Alexander moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #61 and #50; by 1978 that had become #57 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Alexander #29, Glenn #99.
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Glenn in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Glenn #278 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Glenn #5119.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1983
Alexander held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Glenn in 17.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #54 in 1983, Glenn #28 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Alexander #54, Glenn #100.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1997–2013
Alexander held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Glenn in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #40 in 2007, Glenn #104 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alexander #48, Glenn #343.
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 | Glenn |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (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); Glenn does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for Glenn.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Glenn doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Glenn 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
Glenn
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #329 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1986
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1962 (recorded 1952–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys