Alex vs Precious
Alex and Preciouscompared 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 2007, Alex was ranked #20 and Precious #629 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Alex was ranked #78 and Precious #439 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2023, Alex was ranked #152 and Precious #4991 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Precious #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Precious #1262 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Precious over time
Alex and Precious appear together in 3 published lists, across 58 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Precious in 1.
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.
Precious reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Alex in 1. 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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Precious in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Precious #397 in 2004.
The order changed in 2010: Precious moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #495 and #514; by 2010 that had become #674 and #476.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Precious #1262.
Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1999–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Precious in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #82 in 2006, Precious #182 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Precious #885.
England and Wales · Boys8 shared years, 2005–2023
Alex held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Precious in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #47 in 2008, Precious #1991 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alex #152, Precious #4991.
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 | Precious |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | female |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Precious does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Precious both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Precious doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Precious
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #869 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1999–2025
Highest recorded position: #182 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2002 (recorded 1999–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls