Alex vs Ben
Alex and Bencompared 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 Ben #40 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2011, Alex was ranked #48 and Ben #79 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2004, Alex was ranked #57 and Ben #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Ben #125 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Ben #121 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Ben #509 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Alex was ranked #194 and Ben #355 among boys in Norway.
Alex and Ben over time
Alex and Ben appear together in 6 published lists, across 202 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ben 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.
Ben reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 took the other's place near the top
In England and Wales · Boys, Alex moved into the top 50 at #47 in 2008 as Ben fell out of it to #57, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2008, Alex moved ahead of Ben in England and Wales · Boys — #58 and #48 the year before became #47 and #57.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Ben changed places 7 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1987 and 2011, ending at #48 and #79.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alex and Ben averaged 19.4 places apart, ending at #48 and #79.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Ben were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 58 years, from 1954 to 2023, ending at #194 and #355.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alex #42 in 2002, Ben #21 in 2002.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #43 and #34 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #171 and #509.
List by list
Norway · Boys58 shared years, 1954–2023
Alex held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Ben in 19.
Highest recorded here: Alex #154 in 2009, Ben #233 in 1965.
The order changed in 1992: Alex moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #346 and #311; by 1992 that had become #317 and #583.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #194, Ben #355.
Republic of Ireland · Boys47 shared years, 1978–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Ben in 23.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Ben #14 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Ben #40.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Ben in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Ben #21 in 2002.
The order changed in 2008: Alex moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #58 and #48; by 2008 that had become #47 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Ben #509.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Ben in 22.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Ben #6 in 2004.
The order changed in 2021: Alex moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #84 and #65; by 2021 that had become #79 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Ben #125.
New Zealand · Boys25 shared years, 1987–2011
Alex held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Ben in 9.
Highest recorded here: Alex #27 in 2004, Ben #38 in 2002.
The order changed in 2003: Alex moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #48 and #38; by 2003 that had become #38 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Alex #48, Ben #79.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1987–2004
Alex held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Ben in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alex #54 in 1992, Ben #56 in 1987.
The order changed in 1991: Alex moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #71 and #64; by 1991 that had become #61 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Alex #57, Ben #99.
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 | Ben |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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'. | A short form of Benjamin, Benedict and other names beginning with 'Ben'; in Dutch, can also be short for Bernhard. |
| Origin | Greek, short form | Hebrew/Germanic, short form |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæl.ɪks/ | /ˈbɛn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #40 (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 Ben is recorded with a Hebrew/Germanic, short form origin.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Ben.
- Alex's recorded meaning differs from Ben'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
Ben
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #376 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #40 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys