Alexander vs Mathew
Alexander and Mathewcompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2000, Alexander was ranked #20 and Mathew #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1999, Alexander was ranked #25 and Mathew #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Alexander was ranked #30 and Mathew #418 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Mathew #1517 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Mathew #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Mathew over time
Alexander and Mathew appear together in 5 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Mathew in 1.
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.
Mathew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 1986, Alexander moved ahead of Mathew in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #34 and #29 the year before became #29 and #33.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Mathew averaged 27.9 places apart, ending at #20 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Mathew were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1968 to 2000, ending at #20 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Mathew #115 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Mathew in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Mathew #145 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Mathew #829.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1968–2000
Alexander held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Mathew in 17.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1992, Mathew #29 in 1985.
The order changed in 1986: Alexander moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #34 and #29; by 1986 that had become #29 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Alexander #20, Mathew #98.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Mathew in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Mathew #115 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Mathew #1517.
New Zealand · Boys24 shared years, 1971–1999
Alexander held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Mathew in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #19 in 1994, Mathew #37 in 1985.
The order changed in 1986: Alexander moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #52 and #37; by 1986 that had become #41 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Alexander #25, Mathew #96.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1998–2019
Alexander held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Mathew in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #30 in 2019, Mathew #190 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Alexander #30, Mathew #418.
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 | Mathew |
|---|---|---|
| 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, 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 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Mathew does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Mathew.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Mathew 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 Mathew 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
Mathew
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #145 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1966–2000
Highest recorded position: #29 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1966–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys