Alex vs Grayson
Alex and Graysoncompared 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 2025, Alex was ranked #37 and Grayson #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Grayson #62 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Grayson #90 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2018, Alex was ranked #96 and Grayson #98 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Grayson #202 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alex and Grayson over time
Alex and Grayson appear together in 3 published lists, across 42 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Grayson 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 3 of those lists, and Grayson 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2018, Grayson moved ahead of Alex in England and Wales · Boys — #92 and #109 the year before became #91 and #83.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys20 shared years, 2005–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Grayson in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alex #47 in 2008, Grayson #66 in 2020.
The order changed in 2018: Grayson moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #92 and #109; by 2018 that had become #91 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Grayson #90.
Republic of Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2014–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Grayson in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #12 in 2014, Grayson #175 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Grayson #244.
Northern Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 2012–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Grayson in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #57 in 2012, Grayson #106 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Grayson #202.
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 | Grayson |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #97 (2025) |
| 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); Grayson does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Grayson both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Grayson doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
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
Grayson
Popularity journey
First recorded2005
First recorded at #3208 among boys in England and Wales in 2005 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2014–2023
Highest recorded position: #44 among boys in New Zealand, in 2022 (recorded 2014–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys