Alex vs Ashley
Alex and Ashley 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 2020, Alex was ranked #21 and Ashley #637 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Alex was ranked #44 and Ashley #398 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1993, Alex was ranked #57 and Ashley #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1995, Alex was ranked #73 and Ashley #81 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Alex was ranked #207 and Ashley #716 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Alex was ranked #296 and Ashley #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Ashley #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #2605 and Ashley #1271 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Ashley 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 Ashley over time
Alex and Ashley appear together in 7 published lists, across 164 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Ashley in 1.
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.
Ashley 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Alex moved ahead of Ashley in England and Wales · Boys — #43 and #40 the year before became #43 and #46.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Ashley changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #2605 and #1271.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Ashley were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2605 and #1271.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alex #161 in 1996, Ashley #152 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #43 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #207 and #716.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1990–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Ashley in 9.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Ashley #136 in 1994.
The order changed in 2025: Alex moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #504 and #441; by 2025 that had become #304 and #443.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Ashley #443.
Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1972–2020
Alex held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Ashley in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alex #10 in 2011, Ashley #161 in 1975.
The order changed in 1987: Alex moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #256 and #230; by 1987 that had become #190 and #235.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Alex #21, Ashley #637.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Ashley in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Ashley #40 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Alex moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #43 and #40; by 1997 that had become #43 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #207, Ashley #716.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Ashley in 18.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Ashley #152 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #2605, Ashley #1271.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2017
Alex held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Ashley in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alex #56 in 2002, Ashley #127 in 1997.
The order changed in 1998: Alex moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #154 and #127; by 1998 that had become #155 and #187.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Alex #296, Ashley #432.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1997–2013
Alex held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Ashley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Ashley #139 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alex #44, Ashley #398.
New Zealand · Boys8 shared years, 1987–1995
Alex held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Ashley in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alex #61 in 1990, Ashley #53 in 1989.
The order changed in 1990: Alex moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #82 and #53; by 1990 that had become #61 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Alex #73, Ashley #81.
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 | Ashley |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Ashley does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Ashley both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Ashley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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
Ashley
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #372 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1985–2011
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1987 (recorded 1985–2011).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1271 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls