Alex vs Marcus
Alex and Marcuscompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alex was ranked #37 and Marcus #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2013, Alex was ranked #90 and Marcus #67 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2014, Alex was ranked #76 and Marcus #90 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Marcus #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Marcus #176 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alex was ranked #259 and Marcus #150 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Marcus #233 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Marcus over time
Alex and Marcus appear together in 6 published lists, across 197 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Marcus in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Marcus reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Alex in 2. 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 2008, Marcus moved ahead of Alex in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #55 and #61 the year before became #73 and #63.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Marcus changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1965 and 2025, ending at #259 and #150.
- Mirrored each other
Over 53 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alex rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #279 and #99 in 1972 to #37 and #232 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Marcus were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 61 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #259 and #150.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alex #42 in 2002, Marcus #83 in 2001.
List by list
Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1965–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Marcus in 53.
Highest recorded here: Alex #154 in 2009, Marcus #24 in 2001.
The order changed in 1978: Marcus moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #301 and #339; by 1978 that had become #353 and #288.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #259, Marcus #150.
Republic of Ireland · Boys53 shared years, 1972–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Marcus in 18.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Marcus #99 in 1972.
The order changed in 1991: Alex moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #170 and #152; by 1991 that had become #148 and #154.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Marcus #232.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Marcus #83 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Marcus #233.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Marcus in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Marcus #100 in 2003.
The order changed in 1999: Alex moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #163 and #104; by 1999 that had become #107 and #134.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Marcus #144.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys16 shared years, 1995–2013
Alex held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Marcus in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alex #53 in 2005, Marcus #49 in 2010.
The order changed in 2008: Marcus moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #55 and #61; by 2008 that had become #73 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alex #90, Marcus #67.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1990–2014
Alex held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #35 in 2008, Marcus #78 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Alex #76, Marcus #90.
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 | Marcus |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| 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/ | |
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Norway · Boys #150 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Marcus both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Marcus doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
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
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #150 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys