Alex vs Otto
Alex and Ottocompared 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 Otto #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Otto #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Otto #113 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alex was ranked #259 and Otto #115 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Otto #307 among boys in Scotland.
Alex and Otto over time
Alex and Otto appear together in 2 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Otto 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.
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 2023, Otto moved ahead of Alex in England and Wales · Boys — #139 and #158 the year before became #152 and #119.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Otto changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1954 and 2025, ending at #259 and #115.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Otto were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 63 years, from 1954 to 2025, ending at #259 and #115.
List by list
Norway · Boys63 shared years, 1954–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Otto in 21.
Highest recorded here: Alex #154 in 2009, Otto #112 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #259, Otto #115.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Otto in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Otto #113 in 2024.
The order changed in 2023: Otto moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #139 and #158; by 2023 that had become #152 and #119.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Otto #113.
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 | Otto |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Norway · Boys #115 (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); Otto does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Otto both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Otto 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
Otto
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #91 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #90 among boys in Norway, in 1947 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #115 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys