Alex vs Alyssa
Alex and Alyssacompared 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 2023, Alex was ranked #391 and Alyssa #237 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Alyssa #285 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Alyssa #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Alex and Alyssa over time
Alex and Alyssa appear together in 3 published lists, across 79 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alyssa in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 Alyssa 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.
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
Alex and Alyssa changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2001 and 2023, ending at #391 and #237.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Alyssa in 23.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Alyssa #144 in 2004.
The order changed in 2002: Alyssa moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #172 and #262; by 2002 that had become #233 and #226.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Alyssa #285.
Republic of Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Alyssa in 8.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Alyssa #172 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Alyssa #325.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 2001–2023
Alex held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Alyssa in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alex #56 in 2002, Alyssa #137 in 2016.
The order changed in 2020: Alyssa moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #263 and #336; by 2020 that had become #397 and #246.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #391, Alyssa #237.
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 | Alex | Alyssa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | female |
| Meaning | A short form of Alexander, Alexandra and other names beginning with 'Alex' — from Greek elements meaning 'defender' and 'man/people'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, short form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæl.ɪks/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Alyssa does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Alyssa.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Alyssa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
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
Alyssa
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1990–2019
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2004 (recorded 1990–2019).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls