Alexander vs Greg
Alexander and Gregcompared 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 2021, Alexander was ranked #27 and Greg #4789 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Alexander was ranked #46 and Greg #699 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2000, Alexander was ranked #68 and Greg #277 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alexander and Greg over time
Alexander and Greg appear together in 2 published lists, across 52 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Greg in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Greg were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 30 years, from 1978 to 2015, ending at #46 and #699.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Greg #341 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1978–2015
Alexander held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Greg in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #37 in 2014, Greg #166 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Alexander #46, Greg #699.
England and Wales · Boys22 shared years, 1996–2021
Alexander held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Greg in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Greg #341 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alexander #27, Greg #4789.
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 | Greg |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4789 (2021) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Greg does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for Greg.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Greg doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Greg 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
Greg
Popularity journey
First recorded1978
First recorded at #283 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1978–2015
Highest recorded position: #166 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1987 (recorded 1978–2015).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2021
Most recently recorded at #4789 among boys in England and Wales, in 2021.
England and Wales · Boys