Alexander vs Terry
Alexander and Terrycompared 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 Terry #2263 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Alexander was ranked #47 and Terry #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Terry #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1972, Alexander was ranked #70 and Terry #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1967, Alexander was ranked #99 and Terry #89 among boys in New Zealand.
Alexander and Terry over time
Alexander and Terry appear together in 4 published lists, across 104 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
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 1967, Alexander moved ahead of Terry in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #85 and #72 the year before became #83 and #89.
- Mirrored each other
Over 47 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Terry fell — from #143 and #307 in 1972 to #55 and #509 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Terry were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 47 years, from 1972 to 2025, ending at #55 and #509.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Terry #301 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys47 shared years, 1972–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Terry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Terry #177 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Terry #509.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Terry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Terry #301 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Terry #2263.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys18 shared years, 1952–1972
Alexander held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Terry in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #70 in 1972, Terry #49 in 1959.
The order changed in 1967: Alexander moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #85 and #72; by 1967 that had become #83 and #89.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Alexander #70, Terry #90.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1956–1967
Alexander held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Terry in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #77 in 1956, Terry #76 in 1962.
The order changed in 1959: Terry moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #86 and #88; by 1959 that had become #87 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Alexander #99, Terry #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 | Terry |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) |
| 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); Terry does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Terry.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Terry doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Terry 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
Terry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #60 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 recorded1952–1972
Highest recorded position: #49 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1959 (recorded 1952–1972).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys