Alex vs Andrew
Alex and Andrewcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alex was ranked #37 and Andrew #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Alex was ranked #55 and Andrew #75 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2012, Alex was ranked #90 and Andrew #80 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Andrew #104 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Andrew #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Andrew #315 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Alex was ranked #223 and Andrew #458 among boys in Norway.
Alex and Andrew over time
Alex and Andrew appear together in 6 published lists, across 211 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Andrew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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.
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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Alex moved into the top 50 at #32 in 2008 as Andrew fell out of it to #80, having been #33 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1999, Alex moved ahead of Andrew in England and Wales · Boys — #46 and #42 the year before became #45 and #47.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Andrew changed places 9 times in Norway · Boys between 1954 and 2021, ending at #223 and #458.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alex and Andrew averaged 33.2 places apart, ending at #90 and #80.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Andrew were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 50 years, from 1954 to 2021, ending at #223 and #458.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys53 shared years, 1972–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Andrew in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Andrew #16 in 1992.
The order changed in 2002: Alex moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #45 and #37; by 2002 that had become #35 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Andrew #106.
Norway · Boys50 shared years, 1954–2021
Alex held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Andrew in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alex #154 in 2009, Andrew #232 in 1967.
The order changed in 1988: Alex moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #337 and #277; by 1988 that had become #262 and #417.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alex #223, Andrew #458.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Andrew in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Andrew #29 in 1996.
The order changed in 1999: Alex moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #46 and #42; by 1999 that had become #45 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Andrew #315.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Andrew in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Andrew #5 in 1997.
The order changed in 2008: Alex moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #47 and #33; by 2008 that had become #32 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Andrew #216.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1987–2012
Alex held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Andrew in 25.
Highest recorded here: Alex #53 in 2005, Andrew #5 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Alex #90, Andrew #80.
New Zealand · Boys25 shared years, 1987–2013
Alex held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Andrew in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alex #27 in 2004, Andrew #6 in 1987.
The order changed in 2003: Alex moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #48 and #43; by 2003 that had become #38 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alex #55, Andrew #75.
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 | Andrew |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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'. | The English form of Greek Andreas, from 'andreios' ('manly, masculine'), itself from 'aner' ('man'). The apostle Andrew was the first disciple to join Jesus and is patron saint of Scotland. |
| Origin | Greek, short form | Greek, biblical |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæl.ɪks/ | /ˈæn.dɹuː/ |
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Greek, short form origin, while Andrew is recorded with a Greek, biblical origin.
- Alex and Andrew both have 2 syllables.
- Alex's recorded meaning differs from Andrew's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, 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
Andrew
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #344 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2013
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys