Namewise

Alex vs Maddison

Alex and Maddisoncompared 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 2013, Alex was ranked #65 and Maddison #4685 among boys in England and Wales.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Maddison #121 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2023, Alex was ranked #391 and Maddison #142 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Maddison #226 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Alex and Maddison over time

Alex and Maddison appear together in 4 published lists, across 78 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 Maddison 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 2000, Maddison moved ahead of Alex in England and Wales · Girls — #204 and #248 the year before became #186 and #175.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Alex and Maddison changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 2002 and 2025, ending at #304 and #226.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Alex held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Maddison in 25.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Maddison #63 in 2005.

    The order changed in 2000: Maddison moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #204 and #248; by 2000 that had become #186 and #175.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Maddison #121.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 20022025

    Alex held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Maddison in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Maddison #183 in 2023.

    The order changed in 2022: Maddison moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #198 and #209; by 2022 that had become #284 and #237.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Maddison #226.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 20042023

    Alex held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Maddison in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #57 in 2004, Maddison #123 in 2009.

    The order changed in 2011: Maddison moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #90 and #146; by 2011 that had become #160 and #142.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #391, Maddison #142.

  • England and Wales · Boys9 shared years, 19982013

    Alex held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Maddison in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #46 in 1998, Maddison #2901 in 1998.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Alex #65, Maddison #4685.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Alex, Maddison
FieldAlexMaddison
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
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #226 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Maddison does not have one recorded yet.
  • Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Maddison.
  • A meaning is recorded for Alex; Maddison doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

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

Maddison

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1992

    First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1992–2020

    Highest recorded position: #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1998 (recorded 1992–2020).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #226 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls