Alexander vs Kai
Alexander and Kaicompared 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 Kai #56 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #22 and Kai #23 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Kai #34 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Kai #72 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Kai #69 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #81 and Kai #282 among boys in Norway.
Alexander and Kai over time
Alexander and Kai appear together in 6 published lists, across 202 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Kai in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 4 of those lists, Kai 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 1977, Alexander moved ahead of Kai in Norway · Boys — #72 and #57 the year before became #68 and #70.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Alexander and Kai averaged 57.0 places apart, ending at #36 and #72.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Kai were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 73 years, from 1948 to 2025, ending at #81 and #282.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #12 in 2024, Kai #56 in 2024.
List by list
Norway · Boys73 shared years, 1948–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Kai in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Kai #57 in 1976.
The order changed in 1977: Alexander moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #72 and #57; by 1977 that had become #68 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #81, Kai #282.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kai in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Kai #56 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Kai #72.
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Kai in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Kai #30 in 2024.
The order changed in 2022: Kai moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #43 and #51; by 2022 that had become #40 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Kai #34.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1998–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Kai in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Kai #52 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Kai #69.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys23 shared years, 2002–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Kai in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #8 in 2014, Kai #20 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #22, Kai #23.
Scotland · Boys22 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Kai in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Kai #56 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Kai #56.
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 | Kai |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #23 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Kai does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for Kai.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Kai doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Kai 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
Kai
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #76 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2002–2025
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2002–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys