Alex vs Ava
Alex and Avacompared 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 · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Ava #9 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Alex was ranked #391 and Ava #19 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Ava #26 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Alex and Ava over time
Alex and Ava appear together in 3 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Ava held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alex in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Ava 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 2007, Ava moved ahead of Alex in Northern Ireland · Girls — #61 and #81 the year before became #62 and #46.
- Mirrored each other
Over 23 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Ava rose about as far as Alex fell — from #155 and #351 in 1998 to #391 and #19 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Ava were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 34 years, from 1990 to 2025, ending at #304 and #26.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Alex #82 in 2006, Ava #1 in 2008.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1990–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Ava in 31.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Ava #1 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Ava #26.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Ava in 23.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Ava #3 in 2018.
The order changed in 2002: Ava moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #172 and #205; by 2002 that had become #233 and #204.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Ava #9.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1998–2023
Alex held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Ava in 17.
Highest recorded here: Alex #56 in 2002, Ava #9 in 2016.
The order changed in 2007: Ava moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #61 and #81; by 2007 that had become #62 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #391, Ava #19.
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 | Ava |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | female |
| Meaning | A short form of Alexander, Alexandra and other names beginning with 'Alex' — from Greek elements meaning 'defender' and 'man/people'. | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. |
| Origin | Greek, short form | Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæl.ɪks/ | /ˈeɪvə/ |
| 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) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #18 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| 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 Ava is recorded with a Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve origin.
- Alex and Ava both have 2 syllables.
- Alex's recorded meaning differs from Ava'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
Ava
Popularity journey
First recorded1978
First recorded at #522 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1978–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 1978–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls