Alex vs Calvin
Alex and Calvincompared 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 Calvin #211 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Calvin #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Calvin #191 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Calvin #826 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Calvin over time
Alex and Calvin appear together in 3 published lists, across 98 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Calvin in 0.
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.
Calvin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 2000, Alex moved ahead of Calvin in Northern Ireland · Boys — #107 and #105 the year before became #95 and #152.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Calvin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 42 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #37 and #211.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys42 shared years, 1983–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Calvin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Calvin #116 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Calvin #211.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Calvin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Calvin #204 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Calvin #826.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Calvin in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Calvin #99 in 1998.
The order changed in 2000: Alex moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #107 and #105; by 2000 that had become #95 and #152.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Calvin #278.
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 | Calvin |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #211 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Calvin does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Calvin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Calvin 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
Calvin
Popularity journey
First recorded1983
First recorded at #330 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1983 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #99 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #211 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys