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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Is Alexander really, really popular?

60 replies

Bear2014 · 06/04/2017 14:47

We're due our second child this summer and it's been double-confirmed today to be a boy. We are fairly set on the name Alexander as it has strong family connections on my side (baby will have OH's surname) and we can't seem to agree on any others, as we have very different name tastes.

Just having a wobble about if it's too popular, really. There is one in DD's nursery group but no others that we know. We live in London.

Big sis is Eleanor.

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AVeryBigHouse · 10/04/2017 21:53

I have an Alexander William and so does my friend (we met after having our babies).

Apart from that, I haven't come across any other Alexanders. I teach in a school of almost 500 children and we very rarely have any come through.

AliceThrewTheFookingGlass · 08/04/2017 17:50

I have an Alexander (3) I've only met one other so far.

It's a lovely strong name.

Montsti · 07/04/2017 16:57

I know quite a few mainly under 12 and at least 4 under 4...

It's a classic though and there are quite a few nns...it also works in quite a lot of countries...

The ones I know are: Zander, Zandy, Sasha, Alexei & of course Alex...

Pengweng · 07/04/2017 13:09

I work in a school of 400+ kids and only know two kids called Alex so not that popular in the NW.

redexpat · 07/04/2017 13:04

Just to warn you - peppa pigs cousin is baby alexander.

Puremince · 07/04/2017 12:48

We have one. It's a great name. He's the only Alexander in his class, though there was one in an older class when he started, and there's one in a younger class now. We know more boys with Alexander as a middle name than as a first name; it's a very popular middle name.

It's a problem free name - one standard spelling, so no spelling it out, it can't be misheard as something else, so no endless repeating, various ways of shortening it, so it's flexible.

EsmeWeatherwax · 07/04/2017 12:11

I have a five year old Alexander and he is a top quality child!There is another Alexander in his nursery class, but my ds is Sandy, which is slightly less popular, most are Alex/Alec. It's a family name for us. Also Scottish.

Specialmeasuresofgin · 07/04/2017 12:08

Northern. Know one. He's lovely.

marmitecheesetoast · 07/04/2017 12:02

^dated not dates!

marmitecheesetoast · 07/04/2017 12:01

Reading this thread with interest as Alexander is also on our boys shortlist! I know of four baby Alexanders, and don't know a lot of babies so I've been a bit worried about popularity too. Even though it's Top 30 not even Top 10 - maybe just an anomaly round here?! At least there is the nickname potential for them to differentiate themselves in classes where there's multiples.

It is such a lovely classic name though, it's not like it's the kind of name that's very popular for just a few years and then seems very dates

Sammysquiz · 07/04/2017 09:28

It is popular but that's because it's a really lovely name!

Original poster

Bear2014 · 07/04/2017 07:23

Thanks all! We probably will end up using it. I like the fact that even though it does seem to be popular everywhere, it's not faddy. One of the reasons it appeals is that it goes back to the 1700s on my Dad's family tree

OP posts:

mylaptopismylapdog · 07/04/2017 03:13

If you like it, does it really matter, my son is named Henry but called Harry and he was surrounded by boys with the both those names at school but non of them seemed to mind. At uni he's decided to be Henry which is fine.

JonesyAndTheSalad · 07/04/2017 01:51

Lex is a very feminine name though OP. I know four versions of female Lex. I know a Lexus, Lexi and two Alexis's who are all called Lex.

YoungYolandaYorgensen39 · 06/04/2017 23:47

It's a good solid name. There will always be Alexanders about but there aren't masses of them because it's not trendy.

It goes very well with Eleanor. Both quite traditional.

Another fan of Sascha and Sandy here for diminutives.

Beeziekn33ze · 06/04/2017 23:41

London, Y8, 4 in class plus a variation. Some older ones too including a pleasant, non-twittish, Xander who may not be known to Bunty!

It's a great traditional name, you like it so use it, popular or not! I think it has been steadily popular for hundreds of years.

brickinitIam · 06/04/2017 21:14

Oh yes. It's fairly popular, but it's popular for a reason.
It's a great name!

brickinitIam · 06/04/2017 21:13

Alexander for a boy, What a beautiful name.
I also love Alexandra for a girl

museumum · 06/04/2017 20:49

I like it but I most like sandy as a shortening (I'm Scottish). I think sandy is less popular than Alex.

smilingsarahb · 06/04/2017 20:49

Lots round here (surrey) nice name but plenty of them around.

justwanttoweeinpeace · 06/04/2017 20:42

Laughing at this thread 😊 we have a Xander who is generally not a twit.

It obvs becomes second nature to say it when you're asking him to put his shoes on several hundred times a day.

The downside is that people often spell it with a Z, and it regularly gets misheard as Sandra. My midwife managed two weeks calling him Sandra and giving me the side eye 😂

We were very close to calling him Alexander but a close friend beat us to it, hence one Alec and one Xander.

ProlificPoster · 06/04/2017 20:36

I know some in each of my 4 DCs age groups they are 20 - 25

It's a common name but it's also really nice.

Rockaby · 06/04/2017 19:18

I only know two children named Alexander. Both are between 1 and 2 years old.

Re nicknames, one goes by his full name and the other was Xander from the day he was born. Tbh I found Xander a bit forced when I said it in conversation, which has actually put me off it a bit as a shortening. I've noticed lately that his parents have started referring to him by his full name recently. I have no idea why that is, but I'm taking their lead and doing the same.

budgiegirl · 06/04/2017 19:07

It's a lovely name, but it is popular. Out of 13 boys in my DDs class, there are 3 Alexanders, and in her scout troop there are another 3.
I also know another 2 as well !

Sophronia · 06/04/2017 18:22

It's popular but not trendy. Love Alec.

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