Alexander vs Grant
Alexander and Grantcompared 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 Grant #535 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1990, Alexander was ranked #19 and Grant #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1987, Alexander was ranked #35 and Grant #99 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Grant #4270 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2009, Alexander was ranked #50 and Grant #701 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2006, Alexander was ranked #67 and Grant #341 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alexander and Grant over time
Alexander and Grant appear together in 5 published lists, across 120 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Grant 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.
Grant reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1982, Alexander moved ahead of Grant in New Zealand · Boys — #80 and #59 the year before became #57 and #59.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Grant averaged 28.8 places apart, ending at #19 and #75.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Grant were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 35 years, from 1953 to 1990, ending at #19 and #75.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Grant #128 in 1996.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys35 shared years, 1953–1990
Alexander held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Grant in 22.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #17 in 1989, Grant #37 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1990: Alexander #19, Grant #75.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Grant in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Grant #128 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Grant #4270.
New Zealand · Boys26 shared years, 1954–1987
Alexander held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Grant in 20.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #35 in 1987, Grant #13 in 1964.
The order changed in 1982: Alexander moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #80 and #59; by 1982 that had become #57 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Alexander #35, Grant #99.
Scotland · Boys22 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Grant in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Grant #535 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Grant #535.
Republic of Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 1991–2009
Alexander held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Grant in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #50 in 2009, Grant #234 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Alexander #50, Grant #701.
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 | Grant |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #535 (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); Grant does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for Grant.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Grant 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 Grant 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
Grant
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1987
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in New Zealand, in 1964 (recorded 1954–1987).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4270 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys