Alex vs Amer
Alex and Amercompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Amer #2921 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2018, Alex was ranked #175 and Amer #471 among boys in Norway.
Alex and Amer over time
Alex and Amer appear together in 2 published lists, across 54 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Amer in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Amer reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Alex 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 · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Amer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Amer #1235 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Amer #2921.
Norway · Boys25 shared years, 1965–2018
Alex held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Amer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #175 in 2018, Amer #354 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Alex #175, Amer #471.
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 | Amer |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2921 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Amer does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Amer both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Amer doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
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
Amer
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #514 among boys in Norway in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1965–2018
Highest recorded position: #354 among boys in Norway, in 1980 (recorded 1965–2018).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2921 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys