Alex vs Anaya
Alex and Anayacompared 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 · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #2605 and Anaya #86 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Anaya #226 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Alex was ranked #350 and Anaya #350 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Alex and Anaya over time
Alex and Anaya appear together in 2 published lists, across 41 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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 2 of those lists, and Anaya 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, 1996–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Anaya in 17.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Anaya #86 in 2025.
The order changed in 2009: Anaya moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #397 and #404; by 2009 that had become #495 and #370.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #2605, Anaya #86.
Republic of Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 2012–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Anaya in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alex #195 in 2016, Anaya #226 in 2025.
The order changed in 2023: Anaya moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #284 and #338; by 2023 that had become #316 and #296.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Anaya #226.
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 | Anaya |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #86 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Anaya does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Anaya both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Anaya doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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 #2605 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Anaya
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #3126 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #86 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #86 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls