Alexander vs Rodney
Alexander and Rodneycompared 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 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Rodney #2671 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Alexander was ranked #37 and Rodney #87 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1971, Alexander was ranked #100 and Rodney #75 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1995, Alexander was ranked #77 and Rodney #301 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Rodney over time
Alexander and Rodney appear together in 4 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1979, Alexander moved ahead of Rodney in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #57 and #54 the year before became #50 and #70.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Rodney averaged 45.2 places apart, ending at #37 and #87.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Rodney #1055 in 1998.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys29 shared years, 1952–1983
Alexander held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Rodney in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #37 in 1982, Rodney #18 in 1967.
The order changed in 1979: Alexander moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #57 and #54; by 1979 that had become #50 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Alexander #37, Rodney #87.
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Rodney in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Rodney #1055 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Rodney #2671.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1964–1995
Alexander held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Rodney in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #77 in 1995, Rodney #135 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Alexander #77, Rodney #301.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1954–1971
Alexander held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Rodney in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #73 in 1954, Rodney #42 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Alexander #100, Rodney #75.
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 | Rodney |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2671 (2024) |
| 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); Rodney does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Rodney.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Rodney doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Rodney 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
Rodney
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #38 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1983
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1983).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys