Namewise

Alexander vs Marcus

Alexander and Marcuscompared 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 #12 and Marcus #176 among boys in Scotland.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2014, Alexander was ranked #13 and Marcus #90 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2024, Alexander was ranked #16 and Marcus #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Marcus #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Alexander was ranked #40 and Marcus #267 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Marcus #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Alexander was ranked #81 and Marcus #150 among boys in Norway.

Alexander and Marcus over time

Alexander and Marcus appear together in 6 published lists, across 226 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Marcus 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.

Marcus reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Alexander in 2. 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 Marcus in New Zealand · Boys — #100 and #92 the year before became #97 and #98.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Alexander and Marcus changed places 4 times in Norway · Boys between 1963 and 2025, ending at #81 and #150.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Marcus averaged 55.3 places apart, ending at #16 and #93.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #116 and #136 in 1964 to #55 and #232 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Alexander and Marcus were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #40 and #267.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys62 shared years, 1963–2025

    Alexander held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Marcus in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Marcus #24 in 2001.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #81, Marcus #150.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Alexander held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Marcus in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Marcus #99 in 1972.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Marcus #232.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Alexander held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Marcus in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Marcus #83 in 2001.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #40, Marcus #267.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1971–2024

    Alexander held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Marcus in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Alexander #8 in 2014, Marcus #49 in 2010.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #16, Marcus #93.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Alexander held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Marcus in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Marcus #100 in 2003.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Marcus #144.

  • New Zealand · Boys16 shared years, 1971–2014

    Alexander held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Marcus in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Alexander #13 in 2014, Marcus #78 in 2010.

    The order changed in 1977: Alexander moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #100 and #92; by 1977 that had become #97 and #98.

    Most recent shared year, 2014: Alexander #13, Marcus #90.

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.

Other comparisons involving Marcus

Pairs where Marcus shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alexander, Marcus
FieldAlexanderMarcus
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningCommonly interpreted as 'defender of men' or 'protector of the people'.Not yet recorded
OriginGreekNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˌælɪɡˈzændər/
Syllables42
Common variants / nicknamesAlex, Xander, Sasha, AlessandroNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationUnited Kingdom #11 (2025)Norway · Boys #150 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)65/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)70/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
  • Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Marcus.
  • A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Marcus 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 Marcus 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–2025

    Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2014 (recorded 1952–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #40 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Marcus

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1963

    First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1963–2025

    Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #267 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys