Alex vs Ara
Alex and Aracompared 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 Ara #3688 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Alex was ranked #397 and Ara #397 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Ara #3318 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Ara over time
Alex and Ara appear together in 2 published lists, across 31 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ara in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alex #47 in 2008, Ara #2023 in 2007.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys17 shared years, 2005–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Ara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #47 in 2008, Ara #2023 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Ara #3688.
England and Wales · Girls14 shared years, 2003–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Ara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #230 in 2003, Ara #2286 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Ara #3318.
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 | Ara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (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); Ara does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Ara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Ara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR.
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
Ara
Popularity journey
First recorded2003
First recorded at #4373 among girls in England and Wales in 2003 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls