Alex vs Mary Kate
Alex and Mary Katecompared 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 · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Mary Kate #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Alex and Mary Kate over time
Alex and Mary Kate appear together in 1 published list, across 17 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Mary Kate in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Mary Kate 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
Republic of Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 2006–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Mary Kate in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Mary Kate #319 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Mary Kate #885.
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.
- Alex vs Scott
In 1996 they stood at #43 and #48 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #207 and #845.
Alex · Scott · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alex vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #43 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #207 and #716.
Alex · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alex vs Marcus
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.
Alex · Marcus · 53 shared years, 1972–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alex vs Ronan
Over 53 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alex rose about as far as Ronan fell — from #279 and #46 in 1972 to #37 and #86 in 2025.
Alex · Ronan · 53 shared years, 1972–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Alex | Mary Kate |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 40/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Mary Kate does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Mary Kate.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Mary Kate doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in 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 #2605 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Mary Kate
Popularity journey
First recorded2006
First recorded at #550 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 2006 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2006–2025
Highest recorded position: #319 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2010 (recorded 2006–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls