Alexander vs Hayden
Alexander and Haydencompared 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 2016, Alexander was ranked #9 and Hayden #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #13 and Hayden #268 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2012, Alexander was ranked #25 and Hayden #88 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Hayden #164 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #40 and Hayden #314 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Hayden #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Hayden over time
Alexander and Hayden appear together in 6 published lists, across 177 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Hayden in 0.
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.
Hayden reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Alexander in 1. 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 1991, Alexander moved ahead of Hayden in New Zealand · Boys — #39 and #36 the year before became #25 and #37.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Hayden averaged 36.4 places apart, ending at #9 and #96.
- Mirrored each other
Over 35 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Hayden fell — from #91 and #43 in 1976 to #25 and #88 in 2012.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Hayden were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #40 and #314.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #19 in 1994, Hayden #26 in 1994.
List by list
New Zealand · Boys35 shared years, 1976–2012
Alexander held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Hayden in 14.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #19 in 1994, Hayden #26 in 1994.
The order changed in 1991: Alexander moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #39 and #36; by 1991 that had become #25 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Alexander #25, Hayden #88.
Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1992–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Hayden in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Hayden #177 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Hayden #223.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Hayden in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Hayden #71 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #40, Hayden #314.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1987–2016
Alexander held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Hayden in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #8 in 2014, Hayden #31 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Alexander #9, Hayden #96.
Scotland · Boys27 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Hayden in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Hayden #268 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Hayden #268.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Hayden in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Hayden #132 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Hayden #164.
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 | Hayden |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #223 (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); Hayden does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Hayden.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Hayden 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 Hayden 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 #40 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Hayden
Popularity journey
First recorded1974
First recorded at #67 among boys in New Zealand in 1974 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1974–2012
Highest recorded position: #26 among boys in New Zealand, in 1994 (recorded 1974–2012).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #314 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys