Alexander vs Harrison
Alexander and Harrisoncompared 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 Harrison #40 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #22 and Harrison #29 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Alexander was ranked #33 and Harrison #60 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Harrison #52 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Harrison #89 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Harrison #118 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Harrison over time
Alexander and Harrison appear together in 6 published lists, across 162 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Harrison in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alexander reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Harrison 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 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Alexander and Harrison averaged 22.9 places apart, ending at #36 and #52.
- Mirrored each other
Over 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Harrison rose about as far as Alexander fell — from #14 and #96 in 1992 to #22 and #29 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Harrison were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 34 years, from 1992 to 2025, ending at #22 and #29.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #31 in 2018, Harrison #116 in 2020.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys34 shared years, 1992–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Harrison in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #8 in 2014, Harrison #13 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #22, Harrison #29.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1994–2023
Alexander held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Harrison in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #13 in 2014, Harrison #28 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alexander #33, Harrison #60.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Harrison in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Harrison #30 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Harrison #52.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1999–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Harrison in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Harrison #116 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Harrison #118.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1999–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Harrison in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Harrison #74 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Harrison #89.
Scotland · Boys16 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Harrison in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Harrison #40 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Harrison #40.
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 | Harrison |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #29 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Harrison does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Harrison.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Harrison 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 Harrison 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
Harrison
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1992–2025
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2017 (recorded 1992–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #29 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys