Alex vs Joss
Alex and Josscompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2010, Alex was ranked #45 and Joss #387 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1995, Alex was ranked #98 and Joss #334 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Joss #2263 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Joss #3695 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Joss over time
Alex and Joss appear together in 2 published lists, across 42 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Joss 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.
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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alex #199 in 2004, Joss #2137 in 2006.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Joss in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Joss #458 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Joss #2263.
England and Wales · Girls13 shared years, 2004–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Joss in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #199 in 2004, Joss #2137 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Joss #3695.
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 | Joss |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| 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 #2263 (2024) |
| 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); Joss does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Joss.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Joss 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
Joss
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #323 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2001–2010
Highest recorded position: #280 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 2001–2010).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3695 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls