Alexander vs Ray
Alexander and Raycompared 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #13 and Ray #404 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Ray #613 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Ray #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alexander was ranked #70 and Ray #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alexander and Ray over time
Alexander and Ray appear together in 3 published lists, across 74 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ray in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 Scotland · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #12 in 2024, Ray #404 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Ray in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Ray #429 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Ray #613.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1967–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Ray in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Ray #251 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Ray #676.
Scotland · Boys18 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Ray in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Ray #404 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Ray #404.
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 | Ray |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE |
| 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 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Ray does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for Ray.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Ray doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Ray 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
Ray
Popularity journey
First recorded1967
First recorded at #265 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1967 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1967–2025
Highest recorded position: #251 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1970 (recorded 1967–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys