Alex vs Finan
Alex and Financompared 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 2024, Alex was ranked #36 and Finan #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Finan #1235 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Finan over time
Alex and Finan appear together in 2 published lists, across 32 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Finan in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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 · Boys22 shared years, 1999–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Finan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Finan #1042 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Finan #1235.
Republic of Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 2004–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Finan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2010, Finan #439 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #36, Finan #785.
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 | Finan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 · Boys #785 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Finan does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Finan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Finan 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 #259 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Finan
Popularity journey
First recorded1999
First recorded at #2943 among boys in England and Wales in 1999 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2004–2024
Highest recorded position: #439 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 2004–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1235 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys