Namewise

Alex vs Mason

Alex and Masoncompared 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.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2018, Alex was ranked #96 and Mason #10 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2013, Alex was ranked #90 and Mason #18 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Mason #25 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Alex was ranked #37 and Mason #75 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Mason #61 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Alex was ranked #207 and Mason #77 among boys in England and Wales.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2013, Alex was ranked #882 and Mason #5742 among girls in England and Wales.

Alex and Mason over time

Alex and Mason appear together in 5 published lists, across 109 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Mason 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.

Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Mason 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.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Alex held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Mason in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Mason #27 in 2013.

    The order changed in 2009: Mason moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #47 and #53; by 2009 that had become #50 and #45.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #207, Mason #77.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1998–2024

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

    Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Mason #15 in 2013.

    The order changed in 2012: Mason moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #35 and #44; by 2012 that had become #57 and #20.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Mason #61.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1993–2025

    Alex held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Mason in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Mason #32 in 2022.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Mason #75.

  • New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 2000–2018

    Alex held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Mason in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #27 in 2004, Mason #4 in 2014.

    The order changed in 2010: Mason moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #44 and #54; by 2010 that had become #48 and #32.

    Most recent shared year, 2018: Alex #96, Mason #10.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys10 shared years, 2003–2013

    Alex held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Mason in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Alex #53 in 2005, Mason #18 in 2013.

    The order changed in 2010: Mason moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #63 and #96; by 2010 that had become #72 and #52.

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Alex #90, Mason #18.

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.

Other comparisons involving Mason

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

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alex, Mason
FieldAlexMason
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningA short form of Alexander, Alexandra and other names beginning with 'Alex' — from Greek elements meaning 'defender' and 'man/people'.Originally an occupational surname/vocabulary word meaning 'stoneworker', later adopted as a given name. The deeper root of the word itself is disputed among etymologists — a Germanic (Frankish) origin versus an alternative Medieval Latin source.
OriginGreek, short formEnglish surname, from Old French masson/macon
Pronunciation/ˈæl.ɪks//ˈmeɪsən/
Syllables22
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)New South Wales, Australia · Boys #56 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Alex is recorded with a Greek, short form origin, while Mason is recorded with a English surname, from Old French masson/macon origin.
  • Alex and Mason both have 2 syllables.
  • Alex's recorded meaning differs from Mason's — see the table above for each.
  • 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 #2605 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Mason

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1993

    First recorded at #339 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2000–2023

    Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in New Zealand, in 2014 (recorded 2000–2023).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #77 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys