Adan vs Alex

Adan 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.

England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Adan was ranked #2263 and Alex #171 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Adan was ranked #3318 and Alex #2253 among girls in England and Wales.

Adan and Alex over time

Adan and Alex appear together in 2 published lists, across 46 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Adan 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 Adan 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 · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Adan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Alex in 29.
Highest recorded here: Adan #1116 in 2013, Alex #42 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adan #2263, Alex #171.
England and Wales · Girls17 shared years, 2001–2024
Adan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Alex in 17.
Highest recorded here: Adan #2058 in 2014, Alex #172 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adan #3318, Alex #2253.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Alex

Pairs where Alex shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Alex vs Scott
In 1996 they stood at #43 and #48 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #171 and #1025.
Alex · Scott · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2024 England and Wales ranking
Alex vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #43 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #171 and #880.
Alex · Ashley · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2024 England and Wales ranking
Alex vs Marcus
Over 53 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alex rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #279 and #99 in 1972 to #37 and #232 in 2025.
Alex · Marcus · 53 shared years, 1972–2025 · Mirrored each other
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Alex vs Ronan
Over 53 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alex rose about as far as Ronan fell — from #279 and #46 in 1972 to #37 and #86 in 2025.
Alex · Ronan · 53 shared years, 1972–2025 · Mirrored each other
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Adan, Alex
Field	Adan	Alex
Record type	Official statistical record (evidence-only)	Editorially researched profile
Gender usage	Used for both boys and girls	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	AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observation	England and Wales · Boys #2263 (2024)	Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)	Not yet recorded	90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)	95/100	95/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)	40/100	100/100
Data Confidence	medium	medium

What the data shows

Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Adan does not have one recorded yet.
Adan and Alex both have 2 syllables.
A meaning is recorded for Alex; Adan doesn't have one written yet.
Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW.

How each name got here

Adan

Popularity journey

First recorded1996
First recorded at #1337 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1116 among boys in England and Wales, in 2013 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls

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