Alex vs Cuan
Alex and Cuancompared 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 Cuan #252 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Cuan #102 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Cuan #3688 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Cuan over time
Alex and Cuan appear together in 3 published lists, across 54 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Cuan 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.
Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Cuan in 1. 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 2023, Cuan moved ahead of Alex in Northern Ireland · Boys — #77 and #207 the year before became #113 and #108.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys29 shared years, 1982–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Cuan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Cuan #184 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Cuan #252.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 2004–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Cuan in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Cuan #102 in 2024.
The order changed in 2023: Cuan moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #77 and #207; by 2023 that had become #113 and #108.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Cuan #102.
England and Wales · Boys10 shared years, 1999–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Cuan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2003, Cuan #2425 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Cuan #3688.
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 | Cuan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #252 (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); Cuan does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Cuan.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Cuan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Cuan
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #330 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2004–2024
Highest recorded position: #102 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 2004–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #252 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys