Alex vs Darragh
Alex and Darraghcompared 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 Darragh #19 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Darragh #51 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2007, Alex was ranked #96 and Darragh #842 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2000, Alex was ranked #119 and Darragh #348 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Darragh #218 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Darragh #1402 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2021, Alex was ranked #1866 and Darragh #5581 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Darragh over time
Alex and Darragh appear together in 3 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Darragh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alex in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Darragh 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Darragh changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #108 and #51.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Alex and Darragh averaged 27.1 places apart, ending at #108 and #51.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Darragh were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 53 years, from 1972 to 2025, ending at #37 and #19.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys53 shared years, 1972–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Darragh in 43.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Darragh #11 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Darragh #19.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Darragh in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Darragh #522 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Darragh #1402.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Darragh in 25.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Darragh #20 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Darragh #51.
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 | Darragh |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #19 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 74/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Darragh does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Darragh both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Darragh 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
Darragh
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #222 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1965–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2019 (recorded 1965–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys