Alex vs Bobby
Alex and Bobbycompared 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 Bobby #30 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Bobby #78 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Bobby #82 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Bobby #246 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Bobby #3015 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Bobby over time
Alex and Bobby appear together in 4 published lists, across 122 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Bobby in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 4 of those lists, and Bobby 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 2017, Bobby moved ahead of Alex in England and Wales · Boys — #84 and #90 the year before became #92 and #65.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Alex and Bobby averaged 54.9 places apart, ending at #108 and #78.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Bobby were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 41 years, from 1980 to 2025, ending at #37 and #30.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1980–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Bobby in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Bobby #27 in 2020.
The order changed in 2024: Bobby moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #27 and #28; by 2024 that had become #36 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Bobby #30.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Bobby in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Bobby #57 in 2012.
The order changed in 2017: Bobby moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #84 and #90; by 2017 that had become #92 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Bobby #82.
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Bobby in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Bobby #1530 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Bobby #3015.
Northern Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1998–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Bobby in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Bobby #59 in 2013.
The order changed in 2023: Bobby moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #77 and #82; by 2023 that had become #113 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Bobby #78.
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 | Bobby |
|---|---|---|
| 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-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #30 (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); Bobby does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Bobby both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Bobby 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
Bobby
Popularity journey
First recorded1980
First recorded at #321 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1980 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1980–2025
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2020 (recorded 1980–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #30 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys