Alex vs Brandon
Alex and Brandoncompared 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 Brandon #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2002, Alex was ranked #48 and Brandon #74 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2005, Alex was ranked #53 and Brandon #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Brandon #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Brandon #727 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Brandon #664 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Brandon over time
Alex and Brandon appear together in 5 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Brandon in 2.
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.
Brandon 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2002, Alex moved ahead of Brandon in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #64 and #57 the year before became #54 and #60.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Brandon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 33 years, from 1993 to 2025, ending at #37 and #676.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #43 and #53 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #171 and #664.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1993–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Brandon in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Brandon #67 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Brandon #676.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Brandon in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Brandon #34 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Brandon #664.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Brandon in 5.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Brandon #57 in 2001.
The order changed in 2002: Alex moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #100 and #57; by 2002 that had become #74 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Brandon #305.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys14 shared years, 1992–2005
Alex held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Brandon in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alex #53 in 2005, Brandon #27 in 1997.
The order changed in 2002: Alex moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #64 and #57; by 2002 that had become #54 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Alex #53, Brandon #93.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1992–2002
Alex held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Brandon in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alex #48 in 1999, Brandon #34 in 1992.
The order changed in 1999: Alex moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #82 and #54; by 1999 that had become #48 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Alex #48, Brandon #74.
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 | Brandon |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Brandon does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Brandon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Brandon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Brandon
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #51 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1992–2005
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1997 (recorded 1992–2005).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys