Alex vs Noa
Alex and Noacompared 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 2024, Alex was ranked #36 and Noa #394 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Noa #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Noa #638 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Noa #244 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alex was ranked #259 and Noa #244 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Noa #381 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Alex was ranked #350 and Noa #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Alex and Noa over time
Alex and Noa appear together in 5 published lists, across 99 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Noa in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 Noa 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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Alex #154 in 2009, Noa #199 in 2011.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Noa in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alex #172 in 2001, Noa #228 in 2023.
The order changed in 2014: Noa moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #882 and #1253; by 2014 that had become #1177 and #715.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Noa #244.
England and Wales · Boys26 shared years, 1999–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Noa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Noa #638 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Noa #638.
Norway · Boys25 shared years, 2001–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Noa in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alex #154 in 2009, Noa #199 in 2011.
The order changed in 2025: Noa moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #168 and #227; by 2025 that had become #259 and #244.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #259, Noa #244.
Republic of Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 2008–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Noa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #10 in 2008, Noa #394 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #36, Noa #394.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 2014–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Noa in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alex #195 in 2016, Noa #307 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Noa #381.
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 | Noa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Norway · Boys #244 (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); Noa does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Noa.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Noa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Noa
Popularity journey
First recorded1997
First recorded at #2152 among girls in England and Wales in 1997 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2001–2025
Highest recorded position: #199 among boys in Norway, in 2011 (recorded 2001–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #244 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys