Alesha vs Alex
Alesha 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 2017, Alesha was ranked #215 and Alex #296 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Alesha was ranked #544 and Alex #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alesha was ranked #2411 and Alex #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Alesha and Alex over time
Alesha and Alex appear together in 3 published lists, across 57 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alesha in 1.
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 3 of those lists, and Alesha 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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alesha held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Alex in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alesha #139 in 2009, Alex #161 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alesha #2411, Alex #2253.
Republic of Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 2004–2020
Alesha held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Alex in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alesha #177 in 2009, Alex #82 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Alesha #544, Alex #294.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 2006–2017
Alesha held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Alex in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alesha #104 in 2009, Alex #61 in 2006.
The order changed in 2017: Alesha moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #306 and #229; by 2017 that had become #215 and #296.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Alesha #215, Alex #296.
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 | Alesha | 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 #2411 (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); Alesha does not have one recorded yet.
- Alesha has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Alex.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Alesha doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Alesha
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #944 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2006–2017
Highest recorded position: #104 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 2006–2017).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2411 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