Alexander
Say it: al-ex-ZAN-der
BoyMeans defender of men9 letters4 syllables
#55
in Ireland (2025)
#58 with spellings combined
98
babies in 2025
#32
best rank (2018)
5,357
babies since 1964
Down 12
10-year rank change
Alexander through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 98 | #58 |
| 2024 | 127 | #46 |
| 2023 | 118 | #50 |
| 2022 | 149 | #40 |
| 2021 | 150 | #43 |
| 2020 | 144 | #41 |
| 2019 | 167 | #37 |
| 2018 | 206 | #32 |
| 2017 | 180 | #39 |
| 2016 | 160 | #49 |
| 2015 | 169 | #46 |
| 2014 | 211 | #37 |
| 2013 | 202 | #39 |
| 2012 | 161 | #54 |
| 2011 | 183 | #49 |
| 2010 | 177 | #51 |
| 2009 | 179 | #50 |
| 2008 | 185 | #45 |
| 2007 | 145 | #56 |
| 2006 | 134 | #56 |
| 2005 | 152 | #47 |
| 2004 | 132 | #59 |
| 2003 | 136 | #49 |
| 2002 | 119 | #56 |
| 2001 | 102 | #65 |
| 2000 | 81 | #72 |
| 1999 | 88 | #68 |
| 1998 | 66 | #75 |
| 1997 | 81 | #82 |
| 1996 | 77 | #83 |
| 1995 | 82 | #77 |
| 1994 | 76 | #79 |
| 1993 | 71 | #86 |
| 1992 | 70 | #87 |
| 1991 | 43 | #113 |
| 1990 | 49 | #105 |
| 1989 | 39 | #116 |
| 1988 | 45 | #106 |
| 1987 | 33 | #128 |
| 1986 | 23 | #145 |
| 1985 | 32 | #127 |
| 1984 | 25 | #141 |
| 1983 | 21 | #152 |
| 1982 | 32 | #131 |
| 1981 | 31 | #133 |
| 1980 | 31 | #135 |
| 1979 | 22 | #150 |
| 1978 | 27 | #134 |
| 1977 | 20 | #153 |
| 1976 | 23 | #146 |
| 1975 | 27 | #131 |
| 1974 | 30 | #127 |
| 1973 | 22 | #145 |
| 1972 | 23 | #143 |
| 1971 | 32 | #120 |
| 1970 | 16 | #157 |
| 1969 | 21 | #135 |
| 1968 | 30 | #108 |
| 1967 | 16 | #137 |
| 1966 | 24 | #114 |
| 1965 | 23 | #115 |
| 1964 | 19 | #116 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Alexander mean?
Defender of men
Greek, from Alexandros, built from a verb meaning to defend and the word for man.
Say it right
alexZANder
The story of Alexander
Alexander comes from the Greek Alexandros, made from a verb meaning to defend and the word for man, so defender of men is the usual translation. It was already a common name in Macedonia and Greece before its most famous bearer, Alexander the Great, whose conquests carried it across Europe and Asia.
In Scotland it became a royal name, and its Gaelic form Alasdair gave the English Alastair. The surname Alexander in Scotland comes from Mac Alasdair, son of Alexander.
In Ireland it has been given throughout the CSO records, with 19 babies in 1964. It climbed through the 1990s and 2000s and peaked in 2014 with 211 babies. Its best rank was number 32 in 2018, or 31st on the CSO’s own list. In Northern Ireland its best was 26th in 2014.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Alexander (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Alexander
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
SebastianNicholasChristopherBenjamin
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Alex
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander | 98 | 5,357 |
In Northern Ireland
#48 in 2025 with 42 babies. Best rank #26 (2014); 1,771 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.