Alexander vs Jamie
Alexander and Jamiecompared 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 #12 and Jamie #87 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2007, Alexander was ranked #20 and Jamie #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2011, Alexander was ranked #28 and Jamie #93 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Jamie #118 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #40 and Jamie #245 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Jamie #47 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #81 and Jamie #378 among boys in Norway.
Alexander and Jamie over time
Alexander and Jamie appear together in 5 published lists, across 186 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jamie in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jamie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Alexander 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Alexander moved into the top 50 at #29 in 2021 as Jamie fell out of it to #69, having been #41 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1991, Alexander moved ahead of Jamie in New Zealand · Boys — #39 and #23 the year before became #25 and #31.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexander and Jamie changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #38 and #118.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 39 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Jamie averaged 38.3 places apart, ending at #20 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Jamie were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #40 and #245.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Jamie #28 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys54 shared years, 1972–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Jamie in 46.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Jamie #10 in 2006.
The order changed in 1979: Jamie moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #134 and #144; by 1979 that had become #150 and #147.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Jamie #47.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys39 shared years, 1965–2007
Alexander held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Jamie in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1992, Jamie #28 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Alexander #20, Jamie #100.
New Zealand · Boys35 shared years, 1976–2011
Alexander held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Jamie in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #19 in 1994, Jamie #23 in 1990.
The order changed in 1991: Alexander moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #39 and #23; by 1991 that had become #25 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Alexander #28, Jamie #93.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Jamie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Jamie #28 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #40, Jamie #245.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Jamie in 21.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Jamie #8 in 2005.
The order changed in 2021: Alexander moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #48 and #41; by 2021 that had become #29 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Jamie #118.
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 | Jamie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'defender of men' or 'protector of the people'. | Originally a Lowland Scots diminutive of James; used as a feminine name too since the late 19th century. |
| Origin | Greek | Scottish, diminutive of James |
| Pronunciation | /ˌælɪɡˈzændər/ | /ˈd͡ʒeɪ.mi/ |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #47 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander is recorded with a Greek origin, while Jamie is recorded with a Scottish, diminutive of James origin.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Jamie.
- Alexander's recorded meaning differs from Jamie's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Jamie 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
Jamie
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2005 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls