Namewise

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 #12 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 2025, Alexander was ranked #40 and Richard #431 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 6 published lists, across 268 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

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 England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #40 and #431.

  • 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 · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Alexander held the stronger position in 30 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, 2025: Alexander #40, Richard #431.

  • 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.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Alexander

Pairs where Alexander shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Richard

Pairs where Richard shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

Other pairs from Norway lists

Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Norway overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alexander, Richard
FieldAlexanderRichard
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningCommonly 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.
OriginGreekGermanic
Pronunciation/ˌælɪɡˈzændər//ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/
Syllables42
Common variants / nicknamesAlex, Xander, Sasha, AlessandroNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationUnited Kingdom #11 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)65/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)70/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–2025

    Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2014 (recorded 1952–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #40 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Richard

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1999

    Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys