Alex vs Barra
Alex and Barracompared 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 Barra #170 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Barra #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alex and Barra over time
Alex and Barra appear together in 2 published lists, across 46 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Barra in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Barra 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Barra were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 31 years, from 1981 to 2025, ending at #37 and #170.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys31 shared years, 1981–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Barra in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Barra #170 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Barra #170.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 2006–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Barra in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Barra #187 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Barra #305.
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 | Barra |
|---|---|---|
| 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-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #170 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Barra does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Barra both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Barra doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in 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
Barra
Popularity journey
First recorded1981
First recorded at #322 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1981 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1981–2025
Highest recorded position: #170 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025 (recorded 1981–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #170 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys