Namewise

Alex vs George

Alex and Georgecompared 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 George #6 among boys in England and Wales.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2018, Alex was ranked #96 and George #6 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Alex was ranked #37 and George #112 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and George #40 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and George #48 among boys in Scotland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2013, Alex was ranked #90 and George #54 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2023, Alex was ranked #194 and George #364 among boys in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2018, Alex was ranked #1586 and George #5666 among girls in England and Wales.

Alex and George over time

Alex and George appear together in 7 published lists, across 227 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, George in 2.

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 6 of those lists, George 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.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1992, Alex moved ahead of George in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #148 and #147 the year before became #136 and #138.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Alex and George changed places 6 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1987 and 2013, ending at #90 and #54.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alex and George averaged 13.2 places apart, ending at #90 and #54.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Alex and George were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 31 years, from 1987 to 2018, ending at #96 and #6.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys53 shared years, 19722025

    Alex held the stronger position in 34 of those years, George in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, George #65 in 2019.

    The order changed in 1992: Alex moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #148 and #147; by 1992 that had become #136 and #138.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, George #112.

  • Norway · Boys51 shared years, 19542023

    Alex held the stronger position in 38 of those years, George in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #154 in 2009, George #253 in 1968.

    The order changed in 1985: Alex moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #525 and #411; by 1985 that had become #386 and #414.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #194, George #364.

  • New Zealand · Boys31 shared years, 19872018

    Alex held the stronger position in 1 of those years, George in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #27 in 2004, George #6 in 2018.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2018: Alex #96, George #6.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Alex held the stronger position in 0 of those years, George in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, George #2 in 2018.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, George #6.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 19972024

    Alex held the stronger position in 18 of those years, George in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, George #25 in 2023.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, George #40.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys27 shared years, 19872013

    Alex held the stronger position in 18 of those years, George in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #53 in 2005, George #54 in 2013.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Alex #90, George #54.

  • England and Wales · Girls8 shared years, 19972018

    Alex held the stronger position in 8 of those years, George in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #179 in 1997, George #2802 in 2004.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2018: Alex #1586, George #5666.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Alex, George
FieldAlexGeorge
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningA short form of Alexander, Alexandra and other names beginning with 'Alex' — from Greek elements meaning 'defender' and 'man/people'.Farmer, earth-worker.
OriginGreek, short formGreek
Pronunciation/ˈæl.ɪks//ˈdʒɔːdʒ/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Boys #24 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Alex is recorded with a Greek, short form origin, while George is recorded with a Greek origin.
  • Alex and George both have 2 syllables.
  • Alex's recorded meaning differs from George's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Alex

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1972–2025

    Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 1972–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #259 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

George

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #345 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in England and Wales, in 2018 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #24 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys