Alex vs Kingston
Alex and Kingstoncompared 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 Kingston #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2018, Alex was ranked #96 and Kingston #92 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alex was ranked #113 and Kingston #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Kingston #1460 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Kingston over time
Alex and Kingston appear together in 2 published lists, across 32 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kingston in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Kingston 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys22 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Kingston in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #43 in 1996, Kingston #818 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Kingston #1460.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 2007–2018
Alex held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Kingston in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alex #35 in 2007, Kingston #54 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Alex #96, Kingston #92.
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 | Kingston |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Kingston does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Kingston both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Kingston doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Kingston
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2863 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2007–2020
Highest recorded position: #54 among boys in New Zealand, in 2010 (recorded 2007–2020).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys