Alexander vs Jesse
Alexander and Jessecompared 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 2014, Alexander was ranked #8 and Jesse #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #13 and Jesse #290 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2017, Alexander was ranked #24 and Jesse #99 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Jesse #54 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Jesse #102 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Jesse #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Jesse over time
Alexander and Jesse appear together in 6 published lists, across 171 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Jesse in 0.
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, Jesse in 2. 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 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Jesse averaged 42.3 places apart, ending at #8 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Jesse were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 30 years, from 1985 to 2014, ending at #8 and #93.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #12 in 2024, Jesse #290 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys42 shared years, 1970–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Jesse in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Jesse #133 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Jesse #141.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1981–2017
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jesse in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #18 in 2015, Jesse #18 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Alexander #24, Jesse #99.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys30 shared years, 1985–2014
Alexander held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Jesse in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #8 in 2014, Jesse #30 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Alexander #8, Jesse #93.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jesse in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Jesse #54 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Jesse #54.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Jesse in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Jesse #102 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Jesse #102.
Scotland · Boys18 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Jesse in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Jesse #290 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Jesse #290.
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 | Jesse |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #141 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Greek); Jesse does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Jesse.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Jesse 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 Jesse 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
Jesse
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1981–2017
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1981–2017).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys