Alex vs Kali
Alex and Kalicompared 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 2020, Alex was ranked #108 and Kali #3848 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Alex was ranked #350 and Kali #223 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Kali #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Kali #837 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Kali over time
Alex and Kali appear together in 2 published lists, across 45 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kali 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 2 of those lists, and Kali 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Kali in 8.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Kali #771 in 2020.
The order changed in 2019: Kali moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #1586 and #1887; by 2019 that had become #1389 and #1063.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Kali #837.
Republic of Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 2007–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Kali in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alex #96 in 2007, Kali #347 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Kali #885.
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 | Kali |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | female |
| 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| 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); Kali does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Kali both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Kali doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Kali
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #1646 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2008–2021
Highest recorded position: #223 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 2008–2021).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls