Alex vs Emeli
Alex and Emelicompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Alex was ranked #178 and Emeli #167 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2014, Alex was ranked #274 and Emeli #876 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2021, Alex was ranked #1866 and Emeli #5581 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Emeli over time
Alex and Emeli appear together in 1 published list, across 10 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Emeli 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.
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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alex #882 in 2013, Emeli #699 in 2013.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls10 shared years, 2012–2021
Alex held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Emeli in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alex #882 in 2013, Emeli #699 in 2013.
The order changed in 2014: Alex moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #882 and #699; by 2014 that had become #1177 and #1411.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alex #1866, Emeli #5581.
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 | Emeli |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5581 (2021) |
| 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); Emeli does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Emeli.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Emeli doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Emeli
Popularity journey
First recorded2012
First recorded at #916 among girls in England and Wales in 2012 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2012–2013
Highest recorded position: #167 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2013 (recorded 2012–2013).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2021
Most recently recorded at #5581 among girls in England and Wales, in 2021.
England and Wales · Girls