Alexander vs Karol
Alexander and Karolcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Alexander was ranked #26 and Karol #398 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Karol #4270 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Alexander was ranked #40 and Karol #572 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Alexander was ranked #61 and Karol #436 among boys in Norway.
Alexander and Karol over time
Alexander and Karol appear together in 4 published lists, across 95 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Karol 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.
Karol reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1981, Alexander moved ahead of Karol in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #135 and #117 the year before became #133 and #174.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Karol were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 45 years, from 1968 to 2021, ending at #61 and #436.
List by list
Norway · Boys45 shared years, 1968–2021
Alexander held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Karol in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Karol #150 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alexander #61, Karol #436.
England and Wales · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Karol in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #16 in 1997, Karol #557 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Karol #4270.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1979–2022
Alexander held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Karol in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Karol #75 in 1979.
The order changed in 1981: Alexander moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #135 and #117; by 1981 that had become #133 and #174.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alexander #40, Karol #572.
Northern Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 2005–2014
Alexander held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Karol in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Karol #261 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Alexander #26, Karol #398.
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 | Karol |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4270 (2024) |
| 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); Karol does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Karol.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Karol doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Karol 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
Karol
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #544 among boys in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1979–2022
Highest recorded position: #75 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1979–2022).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4270 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys