Alex vs Caitlyn
Alex and Caitlyncompared 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 2019, Alex was ranked #263 and Caitlyn #424 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #504 and Caitlyn #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Caitlyn #1449 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Caitlyn over time
Alex and Caitlyn appear together in 3 published lists, across 77 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Caitlyn in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one 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, Caitlyn 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Caitlyn moved ahead of Alex in England and Wales · Girls — #204 and #208 the year before became #186 and #169.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Alex #56 in 2002, Caitlyn #97 in 2004.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Caitlyn in 25.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Caitlyn #144 in 2005.
The order changed in 2000: Caitlyn moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #204 and #208; by 2000 that had become #186 and #169.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Caitlyn #1449.
Republic of Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1998–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Caitlyn in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Caitlyn #225 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #504, Caitlyn #898.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2019
Alex held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Caitlyn in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alex #56 in 2002, Caitlyn #97 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Alex #263, Caitlyn #424.
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 | Caitlyn |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Northern Ireland · Girls #407 (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); Caitlyn does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Caitlyn both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Caitlyn doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Caitlyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #686 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1999–2008
Highest recorded position: #66 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1999–2008).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1449 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls