Namewise

Alex vs Lorna

Alex and Lornacompared 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 2005, Alex was ranked #74 and Lorna #318 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Alex was ranked #504 and Lorna #631 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Lorna #2115 among girls in England and Wales.

Alex and Lorna over time

Alex and Lorna appear together in 2 published lists, across 61 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Lorna in 0.

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.

Lorna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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 2003, Alex moved ahead of Lorna in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #153 and #123 the year before became #150 and #170.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Alex and Lorna changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2253 and #2115.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Alex and Lorna were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 32 years, from 1990 to 2024, ending at #504 and #631.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alex #161 in 1996, Lorna #161 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls32 shared years, 1990–2024

    Alex held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Lorna in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Lorna #61 in 1994.

    The order changed in 2003: Alex moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #153 and #123; by 2003 that had become #150 and #170.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #504, Lorna #631.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Alex held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Lorna in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Lorna #161 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Lorna #2115.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Alex

Pairs where Alex shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alex, Lorna
FieldAlexLorna
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalefemale
MeaningA short form of Alexander, Alexandra and other names beginning with 'Alex' — from Greek elements meaning 'defender' and 'man/people'.Not yet recorded
OriginGreek, short formNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈæl.ɪks/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #631 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Lorna does not have one recorded yet.
  • Alex and Lorna both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Alex; Lorna 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1972–2025

    Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 1972–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #259 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Lorna

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #149 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2024

    Highest recorded position: #54 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1995 (recorded 1964–2024).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Girls