Alexander is a popular choice in the UK, ranked #36 in 2024. There's a good chance they'll share their name with at least one classmate throughout school.
Origin & Meaning
Greek — Defender of men
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UK Rank 2024
#36
US Rank #27
About the Name Alexander
Alexander is holding steady in the rankings at #36. It reached its peak of #14 in 1996 and has maintained consistent levels since — the hallmark of a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 29 of the last 29 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.
The name carries Greek roots, where it means "Defender of men". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Alexander is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
It ranks similarly in the US at #27, suggesting broad transatlantic appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Alexander
Unlikely. With around 1,365 UK babies named Alexander per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Alexander in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Alexander has held a stable position around #36 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #14 in 1996 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
The name Alexander has Greek origins and means "Defender of men". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Notable people named Alexander include: Alexander Isak — Alexander Isak is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Liverpool and the Sweden national team.; Alexander Nübel — Alexander Nübel is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart, on loan from Bayern Munich, and the Germany...; Alexander Graham Bell — Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish-born Canadian-American inventor, scientist, and engineer who is credited with patenting the first practical telephone..
Alexander ranks #27 in the US (2024), making it comfortably inside the American top 100. It's well-liked on both sides of the Atlantic.
1,365
UK babies named Alexander (2024)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.7
In a school of 600
↓ 10 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Alexander
Likely around 1 other Alexander in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Alexander
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Lee Alexander McQueen was a British fashion designer and couturier. He founded his own Alexander McQueen label in 1992 and was chief designer at Givenchy from 1996 to 2001.
Alexander Isak is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Liverpool and the Sweden national team. Born and raised in Stockholm, Isak began his professional career with boyhood club AIK in 2016.
Alexander Nübel is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart, on loan from Bayern Munich, and the Germany national team.
Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish-born Canadian-American inventor, scientist, and engineer who is credited with patenting the first practical telephone. He also co-founded the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) in 1885.
Alexander III of Macedon (Ancient Greek: Ἀλέξανδρος, romanized: Aléxandros; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip II to the throne in 336 BC at the age of 20, and spent most of his reign conducting a lengthy military campaign throughout Asia and Egypt.
Archer Alexander was a formerly enslaved American man who served as the model for the "emancipated slave" in the Emancipation Memorial 1876 located in Lincoln Park in Washington, D.C. He was the subject of an 1885 biography, The Story of Archer Alexander, from Slavery to Freedom, March 30, 1863 by William Greenleaf Eliot, published in 1885.
Alexander (Greek: Ἀλέξανδρος) is a masculine name of Greek origin. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.
Alexander Soros is an American investor and philanthropist. One of the five children of billionaire George Soros, he chairs the Board of Directors of the Open Society Foundations and sits on the investment committee for Soros Fund Management.