Alex vs Leigha
Alex and Leighacompared 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 2021, Alex was ranked #198 and Leigha #586 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Alex was ranked #296 and Leigha #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Leigha #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Leigha over time
Alex and Leigha appear together in 3 published lists, across 57 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Leigha 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, Leigha in 1. 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 · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Leigha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Leigha #668 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Leigha #5891.
Republic of Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2021
Alex held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Leigha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Leigha #315 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alex #198, Leigha #586.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2000–2017
Alex held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Leigha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #61 in 2006, Leigha #268 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Alex #296, Leigha #432.
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 | Leigha |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5891 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 73/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Leigha does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Leigha both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Leigha doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Leigha
Popularity journey
First recorded1995
First recorded at #451 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1995 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2000–2017
Highest recorded position: #268 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2012 (recorded 2000–2017).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls