Alanah vs Alex
Alanah 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 2010, Alanah was ranked #430 and Alex #90 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Alanah was ranked #905 and Alex #284 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alanah was ranked #2574 and Alex #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Alanah and Alex over time
Alanah and Alex appear together in 2 published lists, across 51 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alanah in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alanah and Alex changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2574 and #2253.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alanah #672 in 1997, Alex #161 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alanah held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Alex in 25.
Highest recorded here: Alanah #672 in 1997, Alex #161 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alanah #2574, Alex #2253.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1992–2022
Alanah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Alex in 19.
Highest recorded here: Alanah #225 in 2001, Alex #82 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alanah #905, Alex #284.
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 | Alanah | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2574 (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) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Alanah does not have one recorded yet.
- Alanah has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Alex.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Alanah doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Alanah
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #523 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1992–2022
Highest recorded position: #225 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1992–2022).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2574 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