Alexander vs Joseph
Alexander and Josephcompared 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 Joseph #82 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #22 and Joseph #33 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Alexander was ranked #33 and Joseph #69 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Joseph #34 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Joseph #56 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Joseph #64 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #81 and Joseph #465 among boys in Norway.
Alexander and Joseph over time
Alexander and Joseph appear together in 7 published lists, across 339 years of shared records. Joseph held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Alexander in 3.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Joseph reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alexander moved into the top 50 at #49 in 2016 as Joseph fell out of it to #51, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2016, Alexander moved ahead of Joseph in England and Wales · Boys — #22 and #21 the year before became #21 and #22.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexander and Joseph changed places 7 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 2023, ending at #33 and #69.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Alexander and Joseph averaged 9.8 places apart, ending at #36 and #56.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Joseph were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 71 years, from 1952 to 2025, ending at #22 and #33.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #26 in 2014, Joseph #22 in 2013.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys71 shared years, 1952–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Joseph in 25.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #8 in 2014, Joseph #32 in 2005.
The order changed in 1980: Alexander moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #50 and #45; by 1980 that had become #40 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #22, Joseph #33.
Norway · Boys65 shared years, 1956–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 64 of those years, Joseph in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Joseph #272 in 1985.
The order changed in 1958: Alexander moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #415 and #365; by 1958 that had become #304 and #315.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #81, Joseph #465.
New Zealand · Boys62 shared years, 1954–2023
Alexander held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Joseph in 35.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #13 in 2014, Joseph #18 in 1988.
The order changed in 2004: Alexander moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #27 and #26; by 2004 that had become #22 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alexander #33, Joseph #69.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Joseph in 51.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Joseph #11 in 1964.
The order changed in 2016: Alexander moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #46 and #42; by 2016 that had become #49 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Joseph #64.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Joseph in 20.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Joseph #7 in 2000.
The order changed in 2016: Alexander moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #22 and #21; by 2016 that had become #21 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Joseph #56.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Joseph in 22.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Joseph #22 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Joseph #34.
Scotland · Boys22 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Joseph in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Joseph #82 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Joseph #82.
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 | Joseph |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #33 (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); Joseph does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Joseph.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Joseph doesn't have one written yet.
- 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 Joseph 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
Joseph
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #33 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys