Alexander vs Nigel
Alexander and Nigelcompared 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 2025, Alexander was ranked #40 and Nigel #3684 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1979, Alexander was ranked #50 and Nigel #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1983, Alexander was ranked #54 and Nigel #76 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Nigel #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2000, Alexander was ranked #68 and Nigel #277 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alexander and Nigel over time
Alexander and Nigel appear together in 4 published lists, across 108 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nigel in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Nigel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1974, Alexander moved ahead of Nigel in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #78 and #73 the year before became #69 and #72.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander and Nigel averaged 34.1 places apart, ending at #54 and #76.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Nigel were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 48 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #55 and #676.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Nigel #552 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys48 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Nigel in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #37 in 2014, Nigel #67 in 1975.
The order changed in 1988: Alexander moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #128 and #107; by 1988 that had become #106 and #122.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Nigel #676.
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Nigel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Nigel #552 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #40, Nigel #3684.
New Zealand · Boys22 shared years, 1954–1983
Alexander held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Nigel in 20.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #54 in 1983, Nigel #32 in 1967.
The order changed in 1982: Alexander moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #80 and #76; by 1982 that had become #57 and #84.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Alexander #54, Nigel #76.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys11 shared years, 1967–1979
Alexander held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Nigel in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #50 in 1979, Nigel #69 in 1972.
The order changed in 1974: Alexander moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #78 and #73; by 1974 that had become #69 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Alexander #50, Nigel #99.
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.
- Alexander vs Garry
In 1964 they stood at #116 and #114 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2009 they were #50 and #701.
Alexander · Garry · 45 shared years, 1964–2009 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alexander vs Roger
In 1964 they stood at #116 and #113 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2021 they were #43 and #631.
Alexander · Roger · 41 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Alexander
In 1997 they stood at #68 and #60 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2015 they were #415 and #46.
Craig · Alexander · 17 shared years, 1997–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alexander vs Steven
In 1997 they stood at #60 and #59 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2022 they were #47 and #414.
Alexander · Steven · 24 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Alexander | Nigel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Nigel does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Nigel.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Nigel 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 Nigel 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 #40 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Nigel
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #72 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 recorded1954–1983
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in New Zealand, in 1969 (recorded 1954–1983).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3684 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys