Alex vs Ceri
Alex and Cericompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2012, Alex was ranked #65 and Ceri #4805 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2006, Alex was ranked #82 and Ceri #764 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2017, Alex was ranked #1411 and Ceri #4763 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Ceri over time
Alex and Ceri appear together in 2 published lists, across 36 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ceri in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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, Ceri #357 in 1997.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls21 shared years, 1996–2017
Alex held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Ceri in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Ceri #357 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Alex #1411, Ceri #4763.
England and Wales · Boys15 shared years, 1996–2012
Alex held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Ceri in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Ceri #845 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Alex #65, Ceri #4805.
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 | Ceri |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4763 (2017) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Ceri does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Ceri both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Ceri doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, 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
Ceri
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #402 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 recorded1996–2017
Highest recorded position: #357 among girls in England and Wales, in 1997 (recorded 1996–2017).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2017
Most recently recorded at #4763 among girls in England and Wales, in 2017.
England and Wales · Girls