Alexander vs Harris
Alexander and Harriscompared 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 Harris #9 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Harris #338 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Harris #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Harris #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Harris over time
Alexander and Harris appear together in 4 published lists, across 77 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Harris in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alexander reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Harris 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in Scotland · Boys, Alexander and Harris averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #13 and #9.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #26 in 2014, Harris #201 in 2015.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Harris in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Harris #264 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Harris #338.
Scotland · Boys20 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Harris in 20.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Harris #9 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Harris #9.
Republic of Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 2005–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Harris in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Harris #436 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Harris #829.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2007–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Harris in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Harris #201 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Harris #339.
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 | Harris |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (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); Harris does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Harris.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Harris doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Harris 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
Harris
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #454 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2024–2024
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in Scotland, in 2024 (recorded 2024–2024).
Scotland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys