Alex vs Aodan
Alex and Aodancompared 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 2017, Alex was ranked #12 and Aodan #710 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2000, Alex was ranked #48 and Aodan #3036 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Alex was ranked #51 and Aodan #415 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alex and Aodan over time
Alex and Aodan appear together in 1 published list, across 19 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Aodan in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Aodan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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
Republic of Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 1973–2017
Alex held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Aodan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Aodan #254 in 1973.
The order changed in 1982: Alex moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #268 and #254; by 1982 that had become #248 and #330.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Alex #12, Aodan #710.
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 | Aodan |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #710 (2017) |
| 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); Aodan does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Aodan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Aodan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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 #259 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Aodan
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #254 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1973–2017
Highest recorded position: #254 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1973 (recorded 1973–2017).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2017
Most recently recorded at #710 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2017.
Republic of Ireland · Boys