Alex vs Pearce
Alex and Pearcecompared 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 2015, Alex was ranked #13 and Pearce #699 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Alex was ranked #57 and Pearce #273 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2016, Alex was ranked #84 and Pearce #4810 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Pearce over time
Alex and Pearce appear together in 3 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Pearce in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Pearce reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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
England and Wales · Boys20 shared years, 1996–2016
Alex held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Pearce in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Pearce #784 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Alex #84, Pearce #4810.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 1997–2012
Alex held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Pearce in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Pearce #190 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Alex #57, Pearce #273.
Republic of Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 1972–2015
Alex held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Pearce in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Pearce #302 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Alex #13, Pearce #699.
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 | Pearce |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | England and Wales · Boys #4810 (2016) |
| 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); Pearce does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Pearce both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Pearce 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
Pearce
Popularity journey
First recorded1972
First recorded at #307 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1972 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2012
Highest recorded position: #190 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1997–2012).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2016
Most recently recorded at #4810 among boys in England and Wales, in 2016.
England and Wales · Boys