Alexander vs Richard
Alexander and Richardcompared 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 Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Alexander was ranked #21 and Richard #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1999, Alexander was ranked #25 and Richard #81 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Richard #398 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Alexander was ranked #47 and Richard #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Alexander was ranked #67 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.
Alexander and Richard over time
Alexander and Richard appear together in 7 published lists, across 283 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Richard in 3.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Richard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 1982, Alexander moved ahead of Richard in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #42 and #35 the year before became #37 and #40.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 43 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Richard averaged 47.3 places apart, ending at #21 and #98.
- Mirrored each other
Over 71 shared years in Norway · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Richard fell — from #320 and #235 in 1948 to #67 and #481 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Richard were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 43 years, from 1952 to 1997, ending at #21 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys71 shared years, 1948–2023
Alexander held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Richard in 21.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Richard #80 in 1979.
The order changed in 1974: Alexander moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #96 and #82; by 1974 that had become #93 and #107.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alexander #67, Richard #481.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Richard in 36.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Richard #20 in 1986.
The order changed in 2000: Alexander moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #68 and #63; by 2000 that had become #72 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Richard #232.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys43 shared years, 1952–1997
Alexander held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Richard in 27.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1992, Richard #16 in 1960.
The order changed in 1982: Alexander moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #42 and #35; by 1982 that had become #37 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Alexander #21, Richard #98.
New Zealand · Boys38 shared years, 1954–1999
Alexander held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Richard in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #19 in 1994, Richard #9 in 1965.
The order changed in 1991: Alexander moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #39 and #26; by 1991 that had become #25 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Alexander #25, Richard #81.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Richard #398.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Alexander held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Richard #77 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alexander #47, Richard #311.
Scotland · Boys16 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Richard #619 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Richard #619.
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 | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'defender of men' or 'protector of the people'. | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Greek | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˌælɪɡˈzændər/ | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander is recorded with a Greek origin, while Richard is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Richard.
- Alexander's recorded meaning differs from Richard's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Richard 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
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys