Alexander vs Julian
Alexander and Juliancompared 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 Julian #234 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #16 and Julian #87 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Julian #280 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #81 and Julian #54 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Julian #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alexander was ranked #70 and Julian #348 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alexander and Julian over time
Alexander and Julian appear together in 4 published lists, across 169 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Julian 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.
Alexander reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Julian 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 2019, Julian moved ahead of Alexander in Norway · Boys — #35 and #56 the year before became #53 and #52.
- Mirrored each other
Over 59 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Julian fell — from #116 and #191 in 1964 to #55 and #348 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Julian were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 55 years, from 1967 to 2025, ending at #81 and #54.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #12 in 2024, Julian #234 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 58 of those years, Julian in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Julian #129 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Julian #348.
Norway · Boys55 shared years, 1967–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Julian in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Julian #26 in 2011.
The order changed in 2019: Julian moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #35 and #56; by 2019 that had become #53 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #81, Julian #54.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Julian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Julian #267 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Julian #280.
Scotland · Boys26 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Julian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Julian #234 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Julian #234.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Alexander
Pairs where Alexander shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Alexander vs Garry
In 1964 they stood at #116 and #114 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2009 they were #50 and #701.
Alexander · Garry · 45 shared years, 1964–2009 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alexander vs Roger
In 1964 they stood at #116 and #113 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2021 they were #43 and #631.
Alexander · Roger · 41 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Alexander
In 1997 they stood at #68 and #60 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2015 they were #415 and #46.
Craig · Alexander · 17 shared years, 1997–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alexander vs Steven
In 1997 they stood at #60 and #59 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2022 they were #47 and #414.
Alexander · Steven · 24 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Julian
Pairs where Julian shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Christian vs Julian
Over 55 shared years in Norway · Boys, Julian rose about as far as Christian fell — from #78 and #537 in 1967 to #131 and #54 in 2025.
Christian · Julian · 55 shared years, 1967–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Eirik vs Julian
Over 55 shared years in Norway · Boys, Julian rose about as far as Eirik fell — from #63 and #537 in 1967 to #122 and #54 in 2025.
Eirik · Julian · 55 shared years, 1967–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Finn vs Julian
Over 55 shared years in Norway · Boys, Julian rose about as far as Finn fell — from #81 and #537 in 1967 to #153 and #54 in 2025.
Finn · Julian · 55 shared years, 1967–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Simen vs Julian
Over 55 shared years in Norway · Boys, Julian rose about as far as Simen fell — from #270 and #537 in 1967 to #475 and #54 in 2025.
Simen · Julian · 55 shared years, 1967–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Alexander | Julian |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Norway · Boys #54 (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); Julian does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Julian.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Julian 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 Julian 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
Julian
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #191 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1967–2025
Highest recorded position: #26 among boys in Norway, in 2011 (recorded 1967–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #54 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys