Alexandra vs Rachel
Alexandra and Rachelcompared 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2006, Alexandra was ranked #55 and Rachel #98 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2007, Alexandra was ranked #72 and Rachel #71 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alexandra was ranked #141 and Rachel #186 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Alexandra was ranked #264 and Rachel #142 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Alexandra was ranked #159 and Rachel #472 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Alexandra was ranked #176 and Rachel #431 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alexandra was ranked #231 and Rachel #394 among girls in England and Wales.
Alexandra and Rachel over time
Alexandra and Rachel appear together in 6 published lists, across 230 years of shared records. Rachel held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Alexandra 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.
Rachel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Alexandra 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 2007, Alexandra moved ahead of Rachel in England and Wales · Girls — #89 and #84 the year before became #94 and #98.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexandra and Rachel changed places 6 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1969 and 2007, ending at #72 and #71.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alexandra and Rachel averaged 23.9 places apart, ending at #72 and #71.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexandra and Rachel were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #231 and #394.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alexandra #38 in 1996, Rachel #27 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Alexandra held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Rachel in 55.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #67 in 1998, Rachel #6 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Alexandra moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #148 and #148; by 2024 that had become #145 and #189.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexandra #141, Rachel #186.
Norway · Girls54 shared years, 1961–2024
Alexandra held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Rachel in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #70 in 2004, Rachel #214 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexandra #159, Rachel #472.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls35 shared years, 1969–2007
Alexandra held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Rachel in 27.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #16 in 1993, Rachel #10 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Alexandra #72, Rachel #71.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alexandra held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Rachel in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #38 in 1996, Rachel #27 in 1996.
The order changed in 2007: Alexandra moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #89 and #84; by 2007 that had become #94 and #98.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexandra #231, Rachel #394.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023
Alexandra held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Rachel in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #45 in 1997, Rachel #7 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alexandra #264, Rachel #142.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1985–2006
Alexandra held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Rachel in 14.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #26 in 1990, Rachel #7 in 1985.
The order changed in 1999: Alexandra moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #41 and #26; by 1999 that had become #41 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Alexandra #55, Rachel #98.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Alexandra
Pairs where Alexandra shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Jodie vs Alexandra
In 1996 they stood at #43 and #38 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #3035 and #231.
Jodie · Alexandra · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natasha vs Alexandra
In 1996 they stood at #33 and #38 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #1362 and #231.
Natasha · Alexandra · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alexandra vs Chelsea
In 1996 they stood at #38 and #34 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #231 and #983.
Alexandra · Chelsea · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alexandra vs Katherine
In 1996 they stood at #38 and #48 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #231 and #872.
Alexandra · Katherine · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Rachel
Pairs where Rachel shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Rachel vs Danielle
In 1996 they stood at #27 and #20 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #394 and #1454.
Rachel · Danielle · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rachel vs Natasha
In 1996 they stood at #27 and #33 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #394 and #1362.
Rachel · Natasha · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rachel vs Chelsea
In 1996 they stood at #27 and #34 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #394 and #983.
Rachel · Chelsea · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Olivia vs Rachel
In 1996 they stood at #24 and #27 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #1 and #394.
Olivia · Rachel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Alexandra | Rachel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'ewe' (female sheep), the biblical wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈreɪtʃəl/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #141 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #186 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Rachel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel); Alexandra does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexandra has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Rachel.
- A meaning is recorded for Rachel; Alexandra doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Alexandra
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #400 among girls in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1969–2015
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1993 (recorded 1969–2015).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #231 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Rachel
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1965–2006
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1965–2006).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #394 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls