Alexander vs Ørjan
Alexander and Ørjancompared 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 2024, Alexander was ranked #70 and Ørjan #508 among boys in Norway.
Alexander and Ørjan over time
Alexander and Ørjan appear together in 1 published list, across 67 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Ørjan in 0.
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.
Ørjan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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 1978, Alexander moved ahead of Ørjan in Norway · Boys — #68 and #50 the year before became #59 and #66.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexander and Ørjan changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1950 and 2024, ending at #70 and #508.
- Mirrored each other
Over 67 shared years in Norway · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Ørjan fell — from #322 and #286 in 1950 to #70 and #508 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Ørjan were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 67 years, from 1950 to 2024, ending at #70 and #508.
List by list
Norway · Boys67 shared years, 1950–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Ørjan in 20.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 1987, Ørjan #50 in 1977.
The order changed in 1978: Alexander moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #68 and #50; by 1978 that had become #59 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #70, Ørjan #508.
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 | Ørjan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Alex, Xander, Sasha, Alessandro | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Norway · Boys #508 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 40/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Ørjan does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for Ørjan.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Ørjan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in NO.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Ørjan 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 #40 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Ørjan
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #286 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1950–2024
Highest recorded position: #50 among boys in Norway, in 1977 (recorded 1950–2024).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #508 among boys in Norway, in 2024.
Norway · Boys