Alex vs Charley
Alex and Charleycompared 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 2018, Alex was ranked #16 and Charley #749 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Alex was ranked #57 and Charley #273 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Charley #2443 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Alex was ranked #350 and Charley #237 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Charley #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Charley #1672 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Charley over time
Alex and Charley appear together in 6 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Charley in 1.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 3 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Charley changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2253 and #1672.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Charley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Charley #263 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Charley #2443.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Charley in 26.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Charley #146 in 1999.
The order changed in 2005: Charley moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #199 and #202; by 2005 that had become #251 and #204.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Charley #1672.
Republic of Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1997–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Charley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Charley #273 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Charley #718.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1999–2021
Alex held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Charley in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alex #56 in 2002, Charley #115 in 2007.
The order changed in 2020: Charley moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #263 and #298; by 2020 that had become #397 and #397.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alex #350, Charley #237.
Republic of Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1989–2018
Alex held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Charley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Charley #307 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Alex #16, Charley #749.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 2000–2012
Alex held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Charley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Charley #232 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Alex #57, Charley #273.
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 | Charley |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| 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); Charley does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Charley both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Charley 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
Charley
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #307 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1999–2024
Highest recorded position: #115 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1999–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls