Alexander vs Leslie
Alexander and Lesliecompared 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 Leslie #2263 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2003, Alexander was ranked #49 and Leslie #500 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1968, Alexander was ranked #88 and Leslie #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1967, Alexander was ranked #99 and Leslie #98 among boys in New Zealand.
Alexander and Leslie over time
Alexander and Leslie appear together in 4 published lists, across 79 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Leslie 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1967, Alexander moved ahead of Leslie in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #85 and #74 the year before became #83 and #92.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexander and Leslie changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2003, ending at #49 and #500.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Leslie #552 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys26 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Leslie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Leslie #552 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Leslie #2263.
Republic of Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1964–2003
Alexander held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Leslie in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #49 in 2003, Leslie #91 in 1964.
The order changed in 1978: Alexander moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #153 and #138; by 1978 that had become #134 and #140.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Alexander #49, Leslie #500.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1952–1968
Alexander held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Leslie in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #80 in 1952, Leslie #37 in 1952.
The order changed in 1967: Alexander moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #85 and #74; by 1967 that had become #83 and #92.
Most recent shared year, 1968: Alexander #88, Leslie #99.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1954–1967
Alexander held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Leslie in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #73 in 1954, Leslie #52 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Alexander #99, Leslie #98.
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 | Leslie |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2263 (2024) |
| 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); Leslie does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Leslie.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Leslie doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Leslie 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
Leslie
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #37 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 recorded1952–1968
Highest recorded position: #37 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1968).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2263 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys