Alex vs Mervyn
Alex and Mervyncompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2017, Alex was ranked #92 and Mervyn #3996 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1989, Alex was ranked #199 and Mervyn #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Alex and Mervyn over time
Alex and Mervyn appear together in 2 published lists, across 25 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 Mervyn in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #250 and #234 the year before became #171 and #271.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alex #42 in 2002, Mervyn #1962 in 2003.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 1972–1989
Alex held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Mervyn in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alex #171 in 1988, Mervyn #150 in 1976.
The order changed in 1988: Alex moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #250 and #234; by 1988 that had become #171 and #271.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Alex #199, Mervyn #278.
England and Wales · Boys11 shared years, 1998–2017
Alex held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Mervyn in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Mervyn #1962 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Alex #92, Mervyn #3996.
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 | Mervyn |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #3996 (2017) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Mervyn does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Mervyn both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Mervyn doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, 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
Mervyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #85 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1957
Highest recorded position: #85 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1957).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2017
Most recently recorded at #3996 among boys in England and Wales, in 2017.
England and Wales · Boys