Alex vs Cody
Alex and Codycompared 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 Cody #90 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2011, Alex was ranked #48 and Cody #71 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2007, Alex was ranked #62 and Cody #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2010, Alex was ranked #72 and Cody #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Cody #80 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Cody #81 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Cody #107 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Alex was ranked #284 and Cody #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Cody #4192 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Cody over time
Alex and Cody appear together in 8 published lists, across 187 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 8 of them, Cody in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 5 of those lists, Cody 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2022, Cody moved ahead of Alex in England and Wales · Boys — #122 and #126 the year before became #139 and #111.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Cody changed places 8 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1993 and 2010, ending at #72 and #96.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alex and Cody averaged 13.8 places apart, ending at #48 and #71.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Cody were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 35 years, from 1991 to 2025, ending at #37 and #90.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alex #161 in 1996, Cody #311 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys35 shared years, 1991–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Cody in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Cody #88 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Cody #90.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Cody in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Cody #103 in 2023.
The order changed in 2022: Cody moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #122 and #126; by 2022 that had become #139 and #111.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Cody #107.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Cody in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Cody #81 in 2024.
The order changed in 2023: Cody moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #77 and #91; by 2023 that had become #113 and #98.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Cody #81.
England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Cody in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Cody #311 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Cody #4192.
New Zealand · Boys24 shared years, 1987–2011
Alex held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Cody in 9.
Highest recorded here: Alex #27 in 2004, Cody #37 in 2005.
The order changed in 2003: Alex moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #48 and #42; by 2003 that had become #38 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Alex #48, Cody #71.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys18 shared years, 1993–2010
Alex held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Cody in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alex #53 in 2005, Cody #53 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Alex #72, Cody #96.
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1992–2022
Alex held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Cody in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Cody #247 in 2003.
The order changed in 1997: Alex moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #393 and #333; by 1997 that had become #275 and #294.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alex #284, Cody #747.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1998–2007
Alex held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Cody in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #56 in 2002, Cody #193 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Alex #62, Cody #351.
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 | Cody |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #90 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Cody does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Cody both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Cody 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
Cody
Popularity journey
First recorded1986
First recorded at #84 among boys in New Zealand in 1986 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1986–2011
Highest recorded position: #37 among boys in New Zealand, in 2005 (recorded 1986–2011).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #90 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys