Alex vs Lila
Alex and Lilacompared 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 2023, Alex was ranked #391 and Lila #209 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Lila #237 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Lila #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Alex and Lila over time
Alex and Lila appear together in 3 published lists, across 65 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 Lila 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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Lila in 18.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Lila #234 in 2015.
The order changed in 2007: Lila moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #279 and #328; by 2007 that had become #350 and #343.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Lila #237.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 2003–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Lila in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Lila #273 in 2025.
The order changed in 2024: Lila moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #316 and #364; by 2024 that had become #504 and #342.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Lila #273.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 2007–2023
Alex held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Lila in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alex #62 in 2007, Lila #178 in 2013.
The order changed in 2016: Lila moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #195 and #269; by 2016 that had become #229 and #202.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #391, Lila #209.
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 | Lila |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) |
| 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); Lila does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Lila both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Lila 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
Lila
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #1222 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 recorded2007–2023
Highest recorded position: #178 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2013 (recorded 2007–2023).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls