Alex vs Maxwell
Alex and Maxwellcompared 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 Maxwell #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Alex was ranked #55 and Maxwell #78 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Alex was ranked #77 and Maxwell #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Maxwell #169 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Maxwell #184 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Maxwell over time
Alex and Maxwell appear together in 3 published lists, across 71 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Maxwell in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 2 of those lists, Maxwell in 1. 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 1988, Alex moved ahead of Maxwell in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #321 and #321 the year before became #171 and #319.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Maxwell in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Maxwell #114 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Maxwell #184.
Republic of Ireland · Boys29 shared years, 1975–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Maxwell in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Maxwell #266 in 2003.
The order changed in 1988: Alex moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #321 and #321; by 1988 that had become #171 and #319.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Maxwell #829.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2001–2022
Alex held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Maxwell in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Maxwell #219 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alex #77, Maxwell #414.
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 | Maxwell |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Maxwell does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Maxwell both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Maxwell doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Maxwell
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #71 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2021
Highest recorded position: #71 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2021).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys