Alex vs Kara
Alex and Karacompared 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 · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Kara #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Alex was ranked #391 and Kara #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Kara #885 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Kara over time
Alex and Kara appear together in 3 published lists, across 87 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kara in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 Kara 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 Kara changed places 9 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2023, ending at #391 and #391.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Kara were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 32 years, from 1992 to 2025, ending at #304 and #413.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls32 shared years, 1992–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Kara in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Kara #165 in 2015.
The order changed in 2025: Alex moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #504 and #372; by 2025 that had become #304 and #413.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Kara #413.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Kara in 18.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Kara #186 in 2011.
The order changed in 2007: Kara moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #279 and #324; by 2007 that had become #350 and #256.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Kara #885.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2023
Alex held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Kara in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alex #56 in 2002, Kara #93 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #391, Kara #391.
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 | Kara |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #413 (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); Kara does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Kara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Kara 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
Kara
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #396 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2023
Highest recorded position: #93 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2006 (recorded 1997–2023).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls