Alex vs Leja
Alex and Lejacompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Alex was ranked #350 and Leja #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #504 and Leja #631 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Leja #2000 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Leja over time
Alex and Leja appear together in 3 published lists, across 41 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Leja in 1.
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.
Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Leja 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 · Girls17 shared years, 2008–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Leja in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alex #397 in 2008, Leja #729 in 2018.
The order changed in 2014: Leja moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #882 and #900; by 2014 that had become #1177 and #986.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Leja #2000.
Republic of Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 2009–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Leja in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #130 in 2009, Leja #365 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #504, Leja #631.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 2012–2021
Alex held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Leja in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #146 in 2012, Leja #251 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alex #350, Leja #446.
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 | Leja |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #631 (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); Leja does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Leja both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Leja 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
Leja
Popularity journey
First recorded2008
First recorded at #4524 among girls in England and Wales in 2008 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2012–2021
Highest recorded position: #251 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2016 (recorded 2012–2021).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls