Alexander vs Roger
Alexander and Rogercompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2013, Alexander was ranked #17 and Roger #514 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Roger #2263 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Alexander was ranked #43 and Roger #631 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1968, Alexander was ranked #88 and Roger #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1971, Alexander was ranked #100 and Roger #89 among boys in New Zealand.
Alexander and Roger over time
Alexander and Roger appear together in 5 published lists, across 153 years of shared records. Roger held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alexander in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Roger reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Alexander in 1. 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 took the other's place near the top
In Norway · Boys, Alexander moved into the top 50 at #50 in 1981 as Roger fell out of it to #51, having been #44 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1981, Alexander moved ahead of Roger in Norway · Boys — #60 and #44 the year before became #50 and #51.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexander and Roger changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2021, ending at #43 and #631.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Roger were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 54 years, from 1948 to 2013, ending at #17 and #514.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Roger #694 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #116 and #113 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2021 they were #43 and #631.
List by list
Norway · Boys54 shared years, 1948–2013
Alexander held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Roger in 28.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Roger #18 in 1972.
The order changed in 1981: Alexander moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #60 and #44; by 1981 that had become #50 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alexander #17, Roger #514.
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1964–2021
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Roger in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #36 in 2019, Roger #99 in 1965.
The order changed in 1981: Alexander moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #135 and #135; by 1981 that had become #133 and #160.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alexander #43, Roger #631.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Roger in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Roger #694 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Roger #2263.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1952–1968
Alexander held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Roger in 14.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #80 in 1952, Roger #64 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1968: Alexander #88, Roger #86.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1954–1971
Alexander held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Roger in 14.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #73 in 1954, Roger #37 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Alexander #100, Roger #89.
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 | Roger |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2263 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Roger does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Roger.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Roger doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Roger 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
Roger
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #86 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2013
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in Norway, in 1972 (recorded 1945–2013).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2263 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys