Aela vs Alex
Aela 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Aela was ranked #361 and Alex #238 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Aela was ranked #625 and Alex #316 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Aela was ranked #1541 and Alex #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Aela and Alex over time
Aela and Alex appear together in 2 published lists, across 37 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Aela in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Aela 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 · Girls19 shared years, 1999–2024
Aela held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Alex in 17.
Highest recorded here: Aela #1541 in 2024, Alex #204 in 1999.
The order changed in 2023: Aela moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #2488 and #2178; by 2023 that had become #1640 and #2504.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aela #1541, Alex #2253.
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2003–2023
Aela held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Alex in 18.
Highest recorded here: Aela #510 in 2011, Alex #82 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Aela #625, Alex #316.
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 | Aela | Alex |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | 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 | Scotland · Girls #384 (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) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Aela does not have one recorded yet.
- Aela and Alex both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Aela doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Aela
Popularity journey
First recorded1999
First recorded at #3900 among girls in England and Wales in 1999 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2017–2018
Highest recorded position: #296 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2017 (recorded 2017–2018).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1541 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