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Alexander-James

Boy name · 4 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Alexander-James: 4 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 4 births in 2022.

A modern compound name blending two classic Scottish favourites, Alexander-James draws from Greek *Alexandros*, meaning ‘defender of men’, and Hebrew *Ya’akov* (Jacob), meaning ‘supplanter’. It first appeared in Scottish birth records in the 1990s, reflecting the trend to unite family names or honour both a father and grandfather. While no single famous bearer springs to mind as ‘Alexander-James’, the separate halves boast centuries of royalty and saints—from Alexander the Great to King James VI, who united Scotland and England. The name also nods indirectly to places such as Alexandria in Egypt and Santiago de Compostela, both rooted in the same etymologies. This compound form remains especially popular in Scotland, where double-barrelled boys’ names evoke tradition with a distinctly modern twist.

Boy 1 of 52 years

Peak year
20224 babies
Latest (2022)
#5904 babies
Total births
4since 2022
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2022 · 4
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).