Alex vs Fatimah
Alex and Fatimahcompared 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 2023, Alex was ranked #316 and Fatimah #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Fatimah #363 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Fatimah over time
Alex and Fatimah appear together in 2 published lists, across 38 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Fatimah in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Fatimah #267 in 2017.
The order changed in 2009: Fatimah moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #397 and #427; by 2009 that had become #495 and #344.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Fatimah #363.
Republic of Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 2002–2023
Alex held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Fatimah in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #134 in 2008, Fatimah #620 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #316, Fatimah #856.
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 | Fatimah |
|---|---|---|
| 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-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #363 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Fatimah does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Fatimah.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Fatimah doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, 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
Fatimah
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #823 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: #267 among girls in England and Wales, in 2017 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #363 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls