Alex vs Norman
Alex and Normancompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Alex was ranked #42 and Norman #398 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1992, Alex was ranked #136 and Norman #298 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Norman #2443 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Norman over time
Alex and Norman appear together in 2 published lists, across 42 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.
Norman reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1987, Alex moved ahead of Norman in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #256 and #217 the year before became #190 and #303.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys24 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Norman in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2003, Norman #1337 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Norman #2443.
Republic of Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1972–1992
Alex held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Norman in 11.
Highest recorded here: Alex #136 in 1992, Norman #126 in 1973.
The order changed in 1987: Alex moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #256 and #217; by 1987 that had become #190 and #303.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Alex #136, Norman #298.
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 | Norman |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2443 (2024) |
| 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); Norman does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Norman both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Norman doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Norman
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #63 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 recorded1952–1962
Highest recorded position: #62 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1962).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2443 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys