Alexander vs Steven
Alexander and Stevencompared 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 Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2000, Alexander was ranked #20 and Steven #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Alexander was ranked #21 and Steven #77 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Steven #800 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2017, Alexander was ranked #36 and Steven #487 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Alexander was ranked #47 and Steven #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alexander and Steven over time
Alexander and Steven appear together in 7 published lists, across 273 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Steven in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Steven 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 1987, Alexander moved ahead of Steven in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #29 and #27 the year before became #26 and #29.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexander and Steven changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #55 and #829.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander and Steven averaged 45.5 places apart, ending at #20 and #84.
- Mirrored each other
Over 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Steven fell — from #80 and #41 in 1952 to #20 and #84 in 2000.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Steven were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 46 years, from 1952 to 2000, ending at #20 and #84.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #60 and #59 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2022 they were #47 and #414.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Steven in 27.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Steven #57 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Steven #829.
Norway · Boys56 shared years, 1958–2017
Alexander held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Steven in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Steven #224 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Alexander #36, Steven #487.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1952–2000
Alexander held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Steven in 32.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1992, Steven #12 in 1961.
The order changed in 1987: Alexander moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #29 and #27; by 1987 that had become #26 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Alexander #20, Steven #84.
New Zealand · Boys36 shared years, 1954–1997
Alexander held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Steven in 26.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #19 in 1994, Steven #15 in 1967.
The order changed in 1988: Alexander moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #35 and #30; by 1988 that had become #29 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Alexander #21, Steven #77.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Steven #800.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Alexander held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Steven in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Steven #54 in 1998.
The order changed in 1998: Alexander moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #60 and #59; by 1998 that had become #52 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alexander #47, Steven #414.
Scotland · Boys21 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Steven #307 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Steven #307.
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 | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| 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); Steven does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Steven.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Steven doesn't have one written yet.
- 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 Steven 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
Steven
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #363 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2000
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1961 (recorded 1952–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys