Alex vs Dane
Alex and Danecompared 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 Dane #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1989, Alex was ranked #72 and Dane #80 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2002, Alex was ranked #74 and Dane #281 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2023, Alex was ranked #152 and Dane #2813 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2011, Alex was ranked #652 and Dane #5785 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Dane over time
Alex and Dane appear together in 2 published lists, across 60 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Dane 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.
Dane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 1990, Alex moved ahead of Dane in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #199 and #165 the year before became #170 and #323.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Dane changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1979 and 2025, ending at #37 and #829.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Dane were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 32 years, from 1979 to 2025, ending at #37 and #829.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alex #42 in 2002, Dane #256 in 2001.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys32 shared years, 1979–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Dane in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2010, Dane #145 in 1988.
The order changed in 1990: Alex moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #199 and #165; by 1990 that had become #170 and #323.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Dane #829.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2023
Alex held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Dane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Dane #256 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #152, Dane #2813.
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 | Dane |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (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); Dane does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Dane both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Dane doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, 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
Dane
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #88 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1979–1989
Highest recorded position: #62 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1984 (recorded 1979–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys