Aarav vs Alex
Aarav and Alexcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Aarav was ranked #286 and Alex #37 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2016, Aarav was ranked #421 and Alex #63 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Aarav was ranked #535 and Alex #135 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Aarav was ranked #326 and Alex #171 among boys in England and Wales.
Aarav and Alex over time
Aarav and Alex appear together in 2 published lists, across 35 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Aarav in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Aarav in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys21 shared years, 2003–2024
Aarav held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Alex in 21.
Highest recorded here: Aarav #276 in 2013, Alex #42 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aarav #326, Alex #171.
Republic of Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 2009–2025
Aarav held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Alex in 14.
Highest recorded here: Aarav #286 in 2025, Alex #8 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aarav #286, Alex #37.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Aarav | Alex |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of Alexander, Alexandra and other names beginning with 'Alex' — from Greek elements meaning 'defender' and 'man/people'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, short form |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈæl.ɪks/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Aarav does not have one recorded yet.
- Aarav and Alex both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Aarav doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Aarav
Popularity journey
First recorded2003
First recorded at #2470 among boys in England and Wales in 2003 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2003–2024
Highest recorded position: #276 among boys in England and Wales, in 2013 (recorded 2003–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Alex
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #346 among boys in Norway in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1972–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 1972–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #259 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys