Alexander vs Phelim
Alexander and Phelimcompared 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 2009, Alexander was ranked #22 and Phelim #4527 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Alexander was ranked #30 and Phelim #415 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Alexander was ranked #46 and Phelim #615 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Phelim over time
Alexander and Phelim appear together in 2 published lists, across 52 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Phelim in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Phelim 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Phelim were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 44 years, from 1964 to 2015, ending at #46 and #615.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys44 shared years, 1964–2015
Alexander held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Phelim in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #39 in 2013, Phelim #164 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Alexander #46, Phelim #615.
Northern Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 1998–2017
Alexander held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Phelim in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #30 in 2017, Phelim #218 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Alexander #30, Phelim #415.
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 | Phelim |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Northern Ireland · Boys #415 (2017) |
| 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); Phelim does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Phelim.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Phelim 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 Phelim 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
Phelim
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #164 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 recorded1964–2015
Highest recorded position: #164 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2015).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2017
Most recently recorded at #415 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2017.
Northern Ireland · Boys