Alex vs Greg
Alex and Gregcompared 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 2015, Alex was ranked #13 and Greg #699 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2000, Alex was ranked #95 and Greg #277 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2021, Alex was ranked #122 and Greg #4789 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Greg over time
Alex and Greg appear together in 2 published lists, across 52 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Greg in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Greg reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Alex 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 Greg changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1978 and 2015, ending at #13 and #699.
- Mirrored each other
Over 30 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alex rose about as far as Greg fell — from #255 and #283 in 1978 to #13 and #699 in 2015.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Greg were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 30 years, from 1978 to 2015, ending at #13 and #699.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1978–2015
Alex held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Greg in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Greg #166 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Alex #13, Greg #699.
England and Wales · Boys22 shared years, 1996–2021
Alex held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Greg in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Greg #341 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alex #122, Greg #4789.
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 | Greg |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4789 (2021) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Greg does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Greg.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Greg doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Greg
Popularity journey
First recorded1978
First recorded at #283 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1978–2015
Highest recorded position: #166 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1987 (recorded 1978–2015).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2021
Most recently recorded at #4789 among boys in England and Wales, in 2021.
England and Wales · Boys