Alex vs Favour
Alex and Favourcompared 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 2009, Alex was ranked #8 and Favour #429 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Alex was ranked #207 and Favour #4275 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Favour #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #2605 and Favour #1809 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Favour over time
Alex and Favour appear together in 3 published lists, across 55 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Favour 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 2 of those lists, Favour 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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alex #199 in 2004, Favour #802 in 2005.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls23 shared years, 2003–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Favour in 4.
Highest recorded here: Alex #199 in 2004, Favour #802 in 2005.
The order changed in 2023: Favour moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #2178 and #3970; by 2023 that had become #2504 and #2063.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #2605, Favour #1809.
England and Wales · Boys16 shared years, 2005–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Favour in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #47 in 2008, Favour #1688 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #207, Favour #4275.
Republic of Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 2001–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Favour in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Favour #277 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Favour #885.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Alex
Pairs where Alex shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Alex vs Scott
In 1996 they stood at #43 and #48 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #207 and #845.
Alex · Scott · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alex vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #43 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #207 and #716.
Alex · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alex vs Marcus
Over 53 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alex rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #279 and #99 in 1972 to #37 and #232 in 2025.
Alex · Marcus · 53 shared years, 1972–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alex vs Ronan
Over 53 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alex rose about as far as Ronan fell — from #279 and #46 in 1972 to #37 and #86 in 2025.
Alex · Ronan · 53 shared years, 1972–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Alex | Favour |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Favour does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Favour both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Favour doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, 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 #2605 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Favour
Popularity journey
First recorded2001
First recorded at #606 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 2001 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2002–2009
Highest recorded position: #254 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2005 (recorded 2002–2009).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1809 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls