Alexander vs Pawel
Alexander and Pawelcompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2009, Alexander was ranked #19 and Pawel #495 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Alexander was ranked #31 and Pawel #749 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Pawel #4270 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Alexander was ranked #49 and Pawel #346 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alexander and Pawel over time
Alexander and Pawel appear together in 3 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Pawel in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Pawel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Alexander in 1. 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexander and Pawel changed places 4 times in Norway · Boys between 1961 and 2009, ending at #19 and #495.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Pawel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 48 years, from 1961 to 2009, ending at #19 and #495.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #19 in 2008, Pawel #617 in 2009.
List by list
Norway · Boys48 shared years, 1961–2009
Alexander held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Pawel in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Pawel #54 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Alexander #19, Pawel #495.
England and Wales · Boys20 shared years, 2005–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Pawel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #19 in 2008, Pawel #617 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Pawel #4270.
Republic of Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2006–2018
Alexander held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Pawel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Pawel #251 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Alexander #31, Pawel #749.
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 | Pawel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4270 (2024) |
| 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); Pawel does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Pawel.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Pawel doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Pawel 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
Pawel
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #432 among boys in Norway in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1955–2009
Highest recorded position: #54 among boys in Norway, in 1979 (recorded 1955–2009).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4270 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys