Alex vs Caleb
Alex and Calebcompared 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 · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Caleb #26 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alex was ranked #37 and Caleb #108 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Caleb #42 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2013, Alex was ranked #90 and Caleb #70 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2018, Alex was ranked #96 and Caleb #70 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Caleb #75 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Caleb over time
Alex and Caleb appear together in 5 published lists, across 140 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Caleb 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.
Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Caleb in 2. 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Caleb moved into the top 50 at #35 in 2012 as Alex fell out of it to #57, having been #35 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2017, Caleb moved ahead of Alex in England and Wales · Boys — #84 and #86 the year before became #92 and #77.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Caleb changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1996 and 2013, ending at #90 and #70.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alex and Caleb averaged 24.4 places apart, ending at #96 and #70.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Caleb were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 31 years, from 1987 to 2018, ending at #96 and #70.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1983–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Caleb in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Caleb #91 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Caleb #108.
New Zealand · Boys31 shared years, 1987–2018
Alex held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Caleb in 28.
Highest recorded here: Alex #27 in 2004, Caleb #12 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Alex #96, Caleb #70.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Caleb in 8.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Caleb #72 in 2023.
The order changed in 2017: Caleb moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #84 and #86; by 2017 that had become #92 and #77.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Caleb #75.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Caleb in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Caleb #20 in 2023.
The order changed in 2012: Caleb moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #35 and #40; by 2012 that had become #57 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Caleb #26.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys18 shared years, 1996–2013
Alex held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Caleb in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alex #53 in 2005, Caleb #51 in 2001.
The order changed in 2008: Caleb moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #55 and #68; by 2008 that had become #73 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alex #90, Caleb #70.
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 | Caleb |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #108 (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); Caleb does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Caleb both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Caleb 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
Caleb
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #98 among boys in New Zealand in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1982–2023
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1999 (recorded 1982–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #108 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys