Alex vs Cait
Alex and Caitcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Alex was ranked #391 and Cait #237 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Alex was ranked #272 and Cait #524 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2020, Alex was ranked #1556 and Cait #5493 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Cait over time
Alex and Cait appear together in 3 published lists, across 59 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Cait in 0.
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 2 of those lists, Cait 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.
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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alex #161 in 1996, Cait #1234 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1990–2017
Alex held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Cait in 5.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Cait #202 in 2000.
The order changed in 1998: Alex moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #275 and #263; by 1998 that had become #252 and #293.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Alex #272, Cait #524.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 2002–2023
Alex held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Cait in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alex #56 in 2002, Cait #178 in 2020.
The order changed in 2019: Cait moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #238 and #313; by 2019 that had become #263 and #213.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #391, Cait #237.
England and Wales · Girls15 shared years, 1996–2020
Alex held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Cait in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Cait #1234 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Alex #1556, Cait #5493.
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 | Cait |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Northern Ireland · Girls #227 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Cait does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Cait.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Cait doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Cait
Popularity journey
First recorded1967
First recorded at #393 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1967 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2002–2024
Highest recorded position: #178 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2020 (recorded 2002–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #227 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024.
Northern Ireland · Girls