Alex vs Padhraic
Alex and Padhraiccompared 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 2005, Alex was ranked #24 and Padhraic #518 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2006, Alex was ranked #66 and Padhraic #341 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alex and Padhraic over time
Alex and Padhraic appear together in 1 published list, across 18 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Padhraic 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.
Padhraic reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1975–2005
Alex held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Padhraic in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alex #24 in 2005, Padhraic #212 in 1978.
The order changed in 1981: Alex moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #292 and #228; by 1981 that had become #206 and #260.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Alex #24, Padhraic #518.
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 | Padhraic |
|---|---|---|
| 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-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Northern Ireland · Boys #341 (2006) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Padhraic does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Padhraic both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Padhraic doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in 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
Padhraic
Popularity journey
First recorded1975
First recorded at #321 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1975–2005
Highest recorded position: #212 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1978 (recorded 1975–2005).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2005
Most recently recorded at #518 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2005.
Republic of Ireland · Boys