Alex vs Mike
Alex and Mikecompared 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 Mike #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2016, Alex was ranked #63 and Mike #421 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Mike #2088 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Alex was ranked #194 and Mike #476 among boys in Norway.
Alex and Mike over time
Alex and Mike appear together in 3 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Mike in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Mike 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Mike changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1967 and 2023, ending at #194 and #476.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Mike were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 32 years, from 1967 to 2023, ending at #194 and #476.
List by list
Norway · Boys32 shared years, 1967–2023
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Mike in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alex #164 in 2015, Mike #338 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #194, Mike #476.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Mike in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Mike #1235 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Mike #2088.
Republic of Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1991–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Mike in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Mike #263 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Mike #676.
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 | Mike |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| 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); Mike does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Mike both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Mike doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
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
Mike
Popularity journey
First recorded1962
First recorded at #392 among boys in Norway in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1991–2025
Highest recorded position: #263 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1991 (recorded 1991–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys