Alexander vs Tommy
Alexander and Tommycompared 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 Tommy #20 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #38 and Tommy #20 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #22 and Tommy #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alexander was ranked #55 and Tommy #27 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Alexander was ranked #33 and Tommy #68 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Tommy #39 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #70 and Tommy #503 among boys in Norway.
Alexander and Tommy over time
Alexander and Tommy appear together in 5 published lists, across 181 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Tommy in 0.
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.
Alexander reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Tommy 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2020, Tommy moved ahead of Alexander in Northern Ireland · Boys — #30 and #33 the year before became #48 and #16.
- Mirrored each other
Over 72 shared years in Norway · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Tommy fell — from #320 and #268 in 1948 to #70 and #503 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Tommy were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 72 years, from 1948 to 2024, ending at #70 and #503.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #12 in 2024, Tommy #20 in 2024.
List by list
Norway · Boys72 shared years, 1948–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Tommy in 32.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Tommy #11 in 1976.
The order changed in 1985: Alexander moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #29 and #26; by 1985 that had become #16 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #70, Tommy #503.
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1980–2025
Alexander held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Tommy in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #31 in 2018, Tommy #21 in 2023.
The order changed in 2020: Tommy moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #36 and #53; by 2020 that had become #40 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexander #55, Tommy #27.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Tommy in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Tommy #22 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Tommy #39.
Northern Ireland · Boys22 shared years, 1999–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Tommy in 5.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #26 in 2014, Tommy #11 in 2023.
The order changed in 2020: Tommy moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #30 and #33; by 2020 that had become #48 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #38, Tommy #20.
Scotland · Boys15 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Tommy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Tommy #20 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Tommy #20.
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 | Tommy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #27 (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); Tommy does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Tommy.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Tommy 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 Tommy 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
Tommy
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #268 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1999–2024
Highest recorded position: #11 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 1999–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys