Alex vs Kim
Alex and Kimcompared 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 2005, Alex was ranked #24 and Kim #518 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2015, Alex was ranked #75 and Kim #4747 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Alex was ranked #146 and Kim #451 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Alex was ranked #194 and Kim #370 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #504 and Kim #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Kim #4192 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Kim over time
Alex and Kim appear together in 4 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kim 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.
Kim 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 2008, Alex moved ahead of Kim in Norway · Boys — #190 and #184 the year before became #180 and #232.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Kim were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 62 years, from 1954 to 2023, ending at #194 and #370.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alex #161 in 1996, Kim #382 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys62 shared years, 1954–2023
Alex held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Kim in 48.
Highest recorded here: Alex #154 in 2009, Kim #10 in 1987.
The order changed in 2008: Alex moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #190 and #184; by 2008 that had become #180 and #232.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #194, Kim #370.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kim in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Kim #382 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Kim #4192.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1990–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Kim in 9.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Kim #64 in 1992.
The order changed in 2003: Alex moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #153 and #148; by 2003 that had become #150 and #247.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #504, Kim #736.
England and Wales · Boys17 shared years, 1996–2015
Alex held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Kim in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Kim #1168 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Alex #75, Kim #4747.
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 | Kim |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) |
| 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); Kim does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Kim.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Kim doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, 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
Kim
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #344 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1958–1985
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1958–1985).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls