Alexander vs Harley
Alexander and Harleycompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2017, Alexander was ranked #10 and Harley #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #13 and Harley #352 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Alexander was ranked #33 and Harley #91 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Harley #148 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Harley #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Harley #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Harley over time
Alexander and Harley appear together in 5 published lists, across 98 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Harley in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #12 in 2024, Harley #352 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Harley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Harley #45 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Harley #148.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 2004–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Harley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Harley #90 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Harley #278.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1990–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Harley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Harley #181 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Harley #509.
Scotland · Boys15 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Harley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Harley #352 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Harley #352.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1986–2023
Alexander held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Harley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #13 in 2014, Harley #75 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alexander #33, Harley #91.
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 | Harley |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) |
| 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); Harley does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Harley.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Harley 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 Harley 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
Harley
Popularity journey
First recorded1986
First recorded at #94 among boys in New Zealand in 1986 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #45 among boys in England and Wales, in 2014 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls