Alex vs Cailean
Alex and Caileancompared 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 2013, Alex was ranked #12 and Cailean #711 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Alex was ranked #77 and Cailean #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Cailean #478 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Cailean #4270 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Cailean over time
Alex and Cailean appear together in 3 published lists, across 32 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Cailean in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Cailean reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Alex in 1. 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys14 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Cailean in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #43 in 1996, Cailean #1850 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Cailean #4270.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1998–2022
Alex held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Cailean in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #32 in 2008, Cailean #243 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alex #77, Cailean #414.
Republic of Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1993–2013
Alex held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Cailean in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Cailean #275 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alex #12, Cailean #711.
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 | Cailean |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Scotland · Boys #478 (2024) |
| 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); Cailean does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Cailean both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Cailean 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
Cailean
Popularity journey
First recorded1993
First recorded at #275 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1998–2022
Highest recorded position: #243 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1998–2022).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4270 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys