Alex vs Kennedy
Alex and Kennedycompared 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 2016, Alex was ranked #17 and Kennedy #713 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2004, Alex was ranked #57 and Kennedy #372 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Kennedy #2263 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Kennedy #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Kennedy #1449 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Kennedy over time
Alex and Kennedy appear together in 2 published lists, across 58 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kennedy 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.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Kennedy changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2253 and #1449.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alex #161 in 1996, Kennedy #357 in 1997.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kennedy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Kennedy #1257 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Kennedy #2263.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Kennedy in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Kennedy #357 in 1997.
The order changed in 2020: Kennedy moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #1389 and #1497; by 2020 that had become #1556 and #992.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Kennedy #1449.
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 | Kennedy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Kennedy does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Kennedy.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Kennedy 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
Kennedy
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #375 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 recorded1998–2022
Highest recorded position: #351 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1998–2022).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls