Alexander vs Lawrence
Alexander and Lawrencecompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Lawrence #576 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Lawrence #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2003, Alexander was ranked #56 and Lawrence #263 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1957, Alexander was ranked #85 and Lawrence #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1958, Alexander was ranked #86 and Lawrence #93 among boys in New Zealand.
Alexander and Lawrence over time
Alexander and Lawrence appear together in 2 published lists, across 72 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Lawrence in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Lawrence reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Alexander in none. 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Lawrence were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 43 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #55 and #829.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Lawrence #152 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #116 and #119 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #55 and #829.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Lawrence in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #39 in 2013, Lawrence #101 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Lawrence #829.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Lawrence in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Lawrence #152 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Lawrence #576.
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 | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Lawrence does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Lawrence.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Lawrence doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Lawrence 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
Lawrence
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #77 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1957
Highest recorded position: #77 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1957).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys