Alexander vs Graeme
Alexander and Graemecompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2023, Alexander was ranked #34 and Graeme #4107 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Alexander was ranked #39 and Graeme #711 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2001, Alexander was ranked #57 and Graeme #280 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1971, Alexander was ranked #100 and Graeme #69 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1972, Alexander was ranked #70 and Graeme #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Alexander and Graeme over time
Alexander and Graeme appear together in 4 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Graeme reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 1971, Alexander moved ahead of Graeme in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #83 and #80 the year before became #74 and #83.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Graeme were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 34 years, from 1968 to 2013, ending at #39 and #711.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Graeme #755 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1968–2013
Alexander held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Graeme in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #39 in 2013, Graeme #152 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alexander #39, Graeme #711.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys18 shared years, 1952–1972
Alexander held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Graeme in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #70 in 1972, Graeme #33 in 1952.
The order changed in 1971: Alexander moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #83 and #80; by 1971 that had become #74 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Alexander #70, Graeme #96.
England and Wales · Boys15 shared years, 1996–2023
Alexander held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Graeme in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Graeme #755 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alexander #34, Graeme #4107.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1954–1971
Alexander held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Graeme in 14.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #73 in 1954, Graeme #18 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Alexander #100, Graeme #69.
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 | Graeme |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | England and Wales · Boys #4107 (2023) |
| 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); Graeme does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Graeme.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Graeme 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 Graeme 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
Graeme
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #33 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 recorded1954–1975
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1975).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #4107 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Boys