Alex vs Paddy
Alex and Paddycompared 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 Paddy #99 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Paddy #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Paddy #785 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Paddy over time
Alex and Paddy appear together in 3 published lists, across 71 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Paddy in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Paddy 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Paddy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 32 years, from 1988 to 2025, ending at #37 and #99.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alex #42 in 2002, Paddy #680 in 2003.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys32 shared years, 1988–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Paddy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Paddy #96 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Paddy #99.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Paddy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Paddy #680 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Paddy #785.
Northern Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 2007–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Paddy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Paddy #216 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Paddy #216.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Alex
Pairs where Alex shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Alex vs Scott
In 1996 they stood at #43 and #48 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #171 and #1025.
Alex · Scott · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alex vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #43 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #171 and #880.
Alex · Ashley · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alex vs Marcus
Over 53 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alex rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #279 and #99 in 1972 to #37 and #232 in 2025.
Alex · Marcus · 53 shared years, 1972–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alex vs Ronan
Over 53 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alex rose about as far as Ronan fell — from #279 and #46 in 1972 to #37 and #86 in 2025.
Alex · Ronan · 53 shared years, 1972–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Alex | Paddy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #99 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Paddy does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Paddy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Paddy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
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
Paddy
Popularity journey
First recorded1988
First recorded at #271 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1988 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1988–2025
Highest recorded position: #96 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 1988–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #99 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys