Alex vs Ellis
Alex and Elliscompared 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 Ellis #272 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Ellis #95 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Ellis #104 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Ellis #239 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Alex was ranked #397 and Ellis #281 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Ellis #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Ellis #1353 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Ellis over time
Alex and Ellis appear together in 5 published lists, across 112 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ellis in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 5 of those lists, and Ellis 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 2017, Ellis moved ahead of Alex in England and Wales · Boys — #84 and #89 the year before became #92 and #89.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Alex and Ellis averaged 36.8 places apart, ending at #171 and #95.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alex #161 in 1996, Ellis #248 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Ellis in 8.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Ellis #76 in 2019.
The order changed in 2017: Ellis moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #84 and #89; by 2017 that had become #92 and #89.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Ellis #95.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Ellis in 9.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Ellis #248 in 1998.
The order changed in 2016: Ellis moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #1204 and #1324; by 2016 that had become #1416 and #1031.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Ellis #1353.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 2000–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Ellis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Ellis #250 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Ellis #272.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 2000–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Ellis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Ellis #160 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Ellis #239.
Republic of Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 2009–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Ellis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #130 in 2009, Ellis #464 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Ellis #718.
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 | Ellis |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #272 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Ellis does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Ellis both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Ellis 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
Ellis
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #301 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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #76 among boys in England and Wales, in 2019 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls