Alex vs Divine
Alex and Divinecompared 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 2011, Alex was ranked #10 and Divine #730 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Divine #1235 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #504 and Divine #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Divine #1230 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Divine over time
Alex and Divine appear together in 4 published lists, across 73 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Divine 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 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 Divine changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2253 and #1230.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Alex #82 in 2006, Divine #370 in 2004.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Divine in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Divine #764 in 2007.
The order changed in 2022: Divine moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #1866 and #2341; by 2022 that had become #2178 and #1416.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Divine #1230.
England and Wales · Boys22 shared years, 2003–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Divine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2003, Divine #944 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Divine #1235.
Republic of Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 2001–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Divine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Divine #370 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #504, Divine #898.
Republic of Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 2003–2011
Alex held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Divine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Divine #305 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Alex #10, Divine #730.
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 | Divine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #638 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Divine does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Divine.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Divine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, 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
Divine
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2096 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2003–2011
Highest recorded position: #305 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 2003–2011).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1230 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls