Afonso vs Alex
Afonso 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 2023, Afonso was ranked #660 and Alex #27 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Afonso was ranked #1595 and Alex #171 among boys in England and Wales.
Afonso and Alex over time
Afonso and Alex appear together in 1 published list, across 21 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Afonso in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Afonso 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, 2004–2024
Afonso held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Alex in 21.
Highest recorded here: Afonso #1382 in 2018, Alex #46 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Afonso #1595, Alex #171.
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 | Afonso | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #1595 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Afonso does not have one recorded yet.
- Afonso has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Alex.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Afonso doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Afonso
Popularity journey
First recorded2004
First recorded at #3009 among boys in England and Wales in 2004 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2019–2023
Highest recorded position: #660 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 2019–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1595 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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