Alex vs Ema
Alex and Emacompared 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 · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Ema #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Alex was ranked #391 and Ema #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Ema #776 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Ema over time
Alex and Ema appear together in 3 published lists, across 56 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ema 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.
Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Ema 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 · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Ema in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alex #172 in 2001, Ema #593 in 2017.
The order changed in 2012: Ema moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #652 and #665; by 2012 that had become #916 and #857.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Ema #776.
Republic of Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 2007–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Ema in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #96 in 2007, Ema #276 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Ema #718.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 2007–2023
Alex held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Ema in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #62 in 2007, Ema #273 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #391, Ema #391.
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 | Ema |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | female |
| 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, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Norway · Girls #397 (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); Ema does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Ema both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Ema doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
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
Ema
Popularity journey
First recorded1997
First recorded at #2152 among girls in England and Wales in 1997 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1998–2025
Highest recorded position: #219 among girls in Norway, in 2017 (recorded 1998–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #397 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls