Alexander vs Pearce
Alexander and Pearcecompared 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 2016, Alexander was ranked #21 and Pearce #4810 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Alexander was ranked #46 and Pearce #699 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Alexander was ranked #49 and Pearce #273 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alexander and Pearce over time
Alexander and Pearce appear together in 3 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Pearce in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Pearce reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Pearce #784 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys20 shared years, 1996–2016
Alexander held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Pearce in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Pearce #784 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Alexander #21, Pearce #4810.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 1997–2012
Alexander held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Pearce in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #40 in 2007, Pearce #190 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Alexander #49, Pearce #273.
Republic of Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 1972–2015
Alexander held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Pearce in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #45 in 2008, Pearce #302 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Alexander #46, Pearce #699.
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 | Pearce |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4810 (2016) |
| 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); Pearce does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Pearce.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Pearce doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Pearce 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
Pearce
Popularity journey
First recorded1972
First recorded at #307 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1972 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2012
Highest recorded position: #190 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1997–2012).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2016
Most recently recorded at #4810 among boys in England and Wales, in 2016.
England and Wales · Boys