Alexander or Michael - are these overused?

[lilly13]

We are stuck between Alexander and Michael... Are these too common/overused? We live in London; my DH is American and apparently, Michael is the most common name in the USA for the past 50 years. Not sure about Alexander in the USA, however, it seems that there are so many babies in central London called Alex or Alexander.... Haven't seen too many baby Michaels, but I might be wrong... What do you think is less common?

I don't live in the UK so can't help from that perspective. I really don't like Michael but really do like Alexander.

Michael definately less popular in the UK, but then Alexander is not a top 20 name either. Alexander is very, very popular in certain circles though and is probably top 5 in my 'nice, middle class, middle England' neighbourhood. Check out the ONS pages on baby names, you'll find all the info there.

I don't think Michael is an overused boy's name in the UK, it was very popular when I was a child in the late 70's though but not now. Alexander is a more up-to-date name in the UK.

Michael.. He will be the one with the unusual, yet strong name in years to come.

I met a baby Michael the other day and thought how original. There are lots of Michael's aged 30 plus I suppose, but it's very unusual for babies at the moment. Btw, this baby Michael was a real cutie.

Alexander is a great name, always very popular, I do know a lot of them, but it doesn't stop it being a nice name.

I know one baby Michael & several baby boys with Alexander as their middle name but no first name Akexanders. Tbh when our baby Michael was named I thought lovely, haven't heard that for a bubba in a long time.

Alexander more popular in Scotland I think which might skew it's rankings in the top 100 a bit in a way not relevant to you in London

In 2009, Alexander was 22nd and Michael 51st on the ONS list.

I think they're both lovely names.

I am ambivalent about Michael, although I am partial to Michaela for a girl. I do love Alexander though - it's a family name for us, lots of boys have it as middle names/a couple with first names in our family.

i love alexander so much that i called ds2 it!! michael was also one of my choices if it werent for the fact that every michael ive ever know has been an absolute nutter but this is just specific for me..

I know an Alexander (think it is a lovely name) but don't know any Michaels.

thank you so much for your thoughts on this, everyone!

I am American living in the UK, we didn't call DS2 Michael because it is so common in the USA -- but we called DS3 Michael, anyway (running out of names we could agree on by then!).

You may want to know that the usual British nickname is Mikey, with Mick being okay, too. "Mike" is very out of favour here, though.

I know loads more Alexanders than Michaels, American and British.

ragged, thanks very much for your input! not sure i like Mikey.... will give this some further thought...

Michael is less overused than Alex/Alexander imo, in fact I quite like Michael - think it suits a baby and grown man.