Alex vs Ferdinand
Alex and Ferdinandcompared 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 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Ferdinand #1951 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alex was ranked #259 and Ferdinand #224 among boys in Norway.
Alex and Ferdinand over time
Alex and Ferdinand appear together in 2 published lists, across 66 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ferdinand 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, and Ferdinand in none. 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 Ferdinand changed places 13 times in Norway · Boys between 1987 and 2025, ending at #259 and #224.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Ferdinand were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 38 years, from 1987 to 2025, ending at #259 and #224.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Alex #154 in 2009, Ferdinand #167 in 2010.
List by list
Norway · Boys38 shared years, 1987–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Ferdinand in 8.
Highest recorded here: Alex #154 in 2009, Ferdinand #167 in 2010.
The order changed in 2025: Ferdinand moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #168 and #193; by 2025 that had become #259 and #224.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #259, Ferdinand #224.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Ferdinand in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Ferdinand #1048 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Ferdinand #1951.
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 | Ferdinand |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | 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, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Norway · Boys #224 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Ferdinand does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Ferdinand.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Ferdinand doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, 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
Ferdinand
Popularity journey
First recorded1987
First recorded at #527 among boys in Norway in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1987–2025
Highest recorded position: #167 among boys in Norway, in 2010 (recorded 1987–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #224 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys