Alex vs Farah
Alex and Farahcompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2016, Alex was ranked #84 and Farah #4810 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Alex was ranked #391 and Farah #237 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Farah #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Farah #708 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Farah over time
Alex and Farah appear together in 4 published lists, across 68 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Farah in 1.
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 3 of those lists, Farah 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Farah changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2008 and 2023, ending at #391 and #237.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Farah in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Farah #428 in 2001.
The order changed in 2009: Farah moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #397 and #545; by 2009 that had become #495 and #483.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Farah #708.
Republic of Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 2001–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Farah in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #96 in 2007, Farah #353 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Farah #608.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 2008–2023
Alex held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Farah in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alex #78 in 2008, Farah #195 in 2018.
The order changed in 2021: Farah moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #263 and #336; by 2021 that had become #350 and #298.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #391, Farah #237.
England and Wales · Boys8 shared years, 1997–2016
Alex held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Farah in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2003, Farah #2337 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Alex #84, Farah #4810.
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 | Farah |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (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); Farah does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Farah both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Farah 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
Farah
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #502 among girls in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2008–2024
Highest recorded position: #195 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2018 (recorded 2008–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls