Alex vs Evan
Alex and Evancompared 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 Evan #80 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1987, Alex was ranked #80 and Evan #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Evan #125 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Evan #181 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Evan #178 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alex was ranked #259 and Evan #350 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Evan #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Evan over time
Alex and Evan appear together in 4 published lists, across 130 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Evan in 1.
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 2 of those lists, Evan in 1. 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 2005, Alex moved ahead of Evan in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #26 and #25 the year before became #24 and #25.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Alex and Evan averaged 51.3 places apart, ending at #171 and #178.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Evan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 53 years, from 1972 to 2025, ending at #37 and #80.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alex #161 in 1996, Evan #2096 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys53 shared years, 1972–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Evan in 31.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Evan #23 in 2007.
The order changed in 2005: Alex moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #26 and #25; by 2005 that had become #24 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Evan #80.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Evan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Evan #70 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Evan #178.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Evan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Evan #79 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Evan #125.
England and Wales · Girls20 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Evan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Evan #2096 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Evan #5891.
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 | Evan |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #80 (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); Evan does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Evan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Evan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Evan
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #291 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1969–2025
Highest recorded position: #23 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1969–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #350 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys