Alexander vs Gordon
Alexander and Gordoncompared 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 Gordon #727 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Alexander was ranked #31 and Gordon #749 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Gordon #2443 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1999, Alexander was ranked #54 and Gordon #277 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1967, Alexander was ranked #83 and Gordon #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1967, Alexander was ranked #99 and Gordon #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Alexander and Gordon over time
Alexander and Gordon appear together in 5 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Gordon 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.
Alexander reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Gordon 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 1965, Alexander moved ahead of Gordon in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #87 and #79 the year before became #85 and #88.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexander and Gordon changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2018, ending at #31 and #749.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Gordon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 47 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #31 and #749.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Gordon #661 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys47 shared years, 1964–2018
Alexander held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Gordon in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Gordon #83 in 1976.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Alexander #31, Gordon #749.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Gordon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Gordon #661 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Gordon #2443.
Scotland · Boys20 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Gordon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Gordon #727 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Gordon #727.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys14 shared years, 1952–1967
Alexander held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Gordon in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #80 in 1952, Gordon #58 in 1952.
The order changed in 1965: Alexander moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #87 and #79; by 1965 that had become #85 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Alexander #83, Gordon #98.
New Zealand · Boys13 shared years, 1954–1967
Alexander held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gordon in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #73 in 1954, Gordon #51 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Alexander #99, Gordon #96.
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 | Gordon |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Gordon does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Gordon.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Gordon 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 Gordon 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
Gordon
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #58 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 recorded1954–1967
Highest recorded position: #51 among boys in New Zealand, in 1956 (recorded 1954–1967).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2443 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys