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 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Mason #63 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 108 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Mason moved into the top 50 at #20 in 2012 as Alex fell out of it to #57, having been #35 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Mason moved ahead of Alex in England and Wales · Boys — #47 and #53 the year before became #50 and #45.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Alex and Mason averaged 47.7 places apart, ending at #171 and #63.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Mason in 17.
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, 2024: Alex #171, Mason #63.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Alex | Mason |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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'. | 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. |
| Origin | Greek, short form | English surname, from Old French masson/macon |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæl.ɪks/ | /ˈmeɪsən/ |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #56 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
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
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
Mason
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded2000–2023
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in New Zealand, in 2014 (recorded 2000–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #56 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys