Alex vs Macy
Alex and Macycompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2004, Alex was ranked #46 and Macy #3651 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Alex was ranked #263 and Macy #298 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Macy #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Macy #1302 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Macy over time
Alex and Macy appear together in 3 published lists, across 56 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Macy 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 2 of those lists, Macy 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.
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 2002, Macy moved ahead of Alex in England and Wales · Girls — #172 and #179 the year before became #233 and #185.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alex #172 in 2001, Macy #161 in 2000.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Macy in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alex #172 in 2001, Macy #161 in 2000.
The order changed in 2002: Macy moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #172 and #179; by 2002 that had become #233 and #185.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Macy #1302.
Republic of Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 2008–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Macy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #130 in 2009, Macy #395 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Macy #608.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 2004–2019
Alex held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Macy in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alex #57 in 2004, Macy #203 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Alex #263, Macy #298.
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 | Macy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #608 (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); Macy does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Macy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Macy 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
Macy
Popularity journey
First recorded1997
First recorded at #3824 among girls in England and Wales in 1997 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #161 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1997–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls