Alex vs Andrew
Alex and Andrew compared 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 2025, Alex was ranked #207 and Andrew #334 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
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Alex and Andrew over time
Alex and Andrew appear together in 6 published lists, across 212 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 England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #207 and #334.
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 · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 27 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, 2025: Alex #207, Andrew #334.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Alex
Pairs where Alex shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Alex vs Scott
In 1996 they stood at #43 and #48 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #207 and #845.
Alex · Scott · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alex vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #43 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #207 and #716.
Alex · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alex vs Marcus
Over 53 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alex rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #279 and #99 in 1972 to #37 and #232 in 2025.
Alex · Marcus · 53 shared years, 1972–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alex vs Ronan
Over 53 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alex rose about as far as Ronan fell — from #279 and #46 in 1972 to #37 and #86 in 2025.
Alex · Ronan · 53 shared years, 1972–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Andrew
Pairs where Andrew shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Andrew vs Kenneth
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #41 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #106 and #785.
Andrew · Kenneth · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Andrew vs Raymond
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #106 and #509.
Andrew · Raymond · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Andrew
In 1996 they stood at #23 and #29 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #6 and #334.
Oliver · Andrew · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- George vs Andrew
In 1996 they stood at #19 and #29 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #7 and #334.
George · Andrew · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Adam · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
Charlie · Oisin · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Charlie · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Liam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #11 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Liam · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
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 | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) |
| 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 #2605 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
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 #334 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys