Namewise

Alex vs Kelvin

Alex and Kelvincompared 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 2022, Alex was ranked #24 and Kelvin #779 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2020, Alex was ranked #84 and Kelvin #392 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Kelvin #1460 among boys in England and Wales.

Alex and Kelvin over time

Alex and Kelvin appear together in 3 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kelvin 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.

Kelvin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1987, Alex moved ahead of Kelvin in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #256 and #230 the year before became #190 and #203.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Alex and Kelvin changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1972 and 2022, ending at #24 and #779.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Alex and Kelvin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 43 years, from 1972 to 2022, ending at #24 and #779.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1972–2022

    Alex held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Kelvin in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Kelvin #154 in 1998.

    The order changed in 1987: Alex moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #256 and #230; by 1987 that had become #190 and #203.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Alex #24, Kelvin #779.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kelvin in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Kelvin #360 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Kelvin #1460.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2020

    Alex held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Kelvin in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #32 in 2008, Kelvin #210 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2020: Alex #84, Kelvin #392.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Alex

Pairs where Alex shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alex, Kelvin
FieldAlexKelvin
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningA short form of Alexander, Alexandra and other names beginning with 'Alex' — from Greek elements meaning 'defender' and 'man/people'.Not yet recorded
OriginGreek, short formNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈæl.ɪks/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025)England and Wales · Boys #1460 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Kelvin does not have one recorded yet.
  • Alex and Kelvin both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Alex; Kelvin doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Alex

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1972–2025

    Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 1972–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #259 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Kelvin

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1954

    First recorded at #100 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1954–1974

    Highest recorded position: #78 among boys in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1954–1974).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #1460 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Boys