Alexander vs Maurice
Alexander and Mauricecompared 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 Maurice #2671 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Maurice #468 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2005, Alexander was ranked #60 and Maurice #307 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1952, Alexander was ranked #80 and Maurice #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1959, Alexander was ranked #87 and Maurice #85 among boys in New Zealand.
Alexander and Maurice over time
Alexander and Maurice appear together in 2 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Maurice 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.
Maurice 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 1989, Alexander moved ahead of Maurice in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #106 and #106 the year before became #116 and #143.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Maurice were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #55 and #468.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Maurice #818 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Maurice in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Maurice #46 in 1967.
The order changed in 1989: Alexander moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #106 and #106; by 1989 that had become #116 and #143.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Maurice #468.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Maurice in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Maurice #818 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Maurice #2671.
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 | Maurice |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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 #468 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Maurice does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Maurice.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Maurice 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 Maurice 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
Maurice
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #92 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #46 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1967 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #468 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys