Alex vs Belle
Alex and Bellecompared 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 · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Belle #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Belle #311 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Alex was ranked #391 and Belle #328 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Alex and Belle over time
Alex and Belle appear together in 3 published lists, across 59 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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 Belle 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 2018, Belle moved ahead of Alex in Northern Ireland · Girls — #195 and #426 the year before became #238 and #179.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Belle changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 2006 and 2025, ending at #304 and #325.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Belle in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Belle #229 in 2018.
The order changed in 2010: Belle moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #495 and #525; by 2010 that had become #674 and #463.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Belle #311.
Republic of Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2006–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Belle in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Belle #220 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Belle #325.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 2011–2023
Alex held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Belle in 5.
Highest recorded here: Alex #146 in 2012, Belle #179 in 2018.
The order changed in 2018: Belle moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #195 and #426; by 2018 that had become #238 and #179.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #391, Belle #328.
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 | Belle |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| 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'. | 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, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) |
| 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); Belle does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Belle both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Belle doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Belle
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2096 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2011–2024
Highest recorded position: #179 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2018 (recorded 2011–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls