Alex vs Kane
Alex and Kanecompared 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 Kane #468 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1995, Alex was ranked #60 and Kane #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2001, Alex was ranked #66 and Kane #93 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alex was ranked #113 and Kane #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Kane #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Kane #691 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Kane over time
Alex and Kane appear together in 4 published lists, across 98 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kane 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.
Kane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1990, Alex moved ahead of Kane in New Zealand · Boys — #82 and #72 the year before became #61 and #75.
- Mirrored each other
Over 35 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alex rose about as far as Kane fell — from #171 and #254 in 1988 to #37 and #468 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Kane were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 35 years, from 1988 to 2025, ending at #37 and #468.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alex #42 in 2002, Kane #93 in 2000.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys35 shared years, 1988–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Kane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Kane #216 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Kane #468.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Kane #93 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Kane #691.
Northern Ireland · Boys22 shared years, 1997–2023
Alex held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Kane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Kane #152 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #113, Kane #395.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1987–2001
Alex held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Kane in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alex #60 in 1997, Kane #57 in 1988.
The order changed in 1990: Alex moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #82 and #72; by 1990 that had become #61 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Alex #66, Kane #93.
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 | Kane |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #468 (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); Kane does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Kane both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Kane 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
Kane
Popularity journey
First recorded1975
First recorded at #92 among boys in New Zealand in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1975–2001
Highest recorded position: #57 among boys in New Zealand, in 1988 (recorded 1975–2001).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #468 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys