Alex vs Matt
Alex and Mattcompared 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 Matt #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Alex was ranked #58 and Matt #415 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Matt #5119 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Matt over time
Alex and Matt appear together in 3 published lists, across 61 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Matt in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Matt reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Alex 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 25 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alex rose about as far as Matt fell — from #108 and #342 in 1994 to #37 and #676 in 2025.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Matt in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Matt #362 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Matt #5119.
Republic of Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1994–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Matt in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Matt #268 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Matt #676.
Northern Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 2005–2017
Alex held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Matt in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Matt #236 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Alex #58, Matt #415.
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 | Matt |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Matt does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Matt.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Matt doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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 #259 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Matt
Popularity journey
First recorded1994
First recorded at #342 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1994 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2005–2017
Highest recorded position: #236 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 2005–2017).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys