Alex vs Duane
Alex and Duanecompared 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 2008, Alex was ranked #10 and Duane #698 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2020, Alex was ranked #108 and Duane #2960 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Duane over time
Alex and Duane appear together in 2 published lists, across 31 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Duane in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Duane 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys21 shared years, 1996–2020
Alex held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Duane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Duane #853 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Alex #108, Duane #2960.
Republic of Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 1973–2008
Alex held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Duane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #10 in 2008, Duane #268 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Alex #10, Duane #698.
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 | Duane |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2960 (2020) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Duane does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Duane both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Duane doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, 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
Duane
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #320 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1973–2008
Highest recorded position: #268 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1982 (recorded 1973–2008).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2020
Most recently recorded at #2960 among boys in England and Wales, in 2020.
England and Wales · Boys