Alex vs Reilly

Alex and Reillycompared 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 2023, Alex was ranked #27 and Reilly #770 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Alex was ranked #58 and Reilly #415 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Reilly #535 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Reilly #3688 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2020, Alex was ranked #1556 and Reilly #3899 among girls in England and Wales.

Alex and Reilly over time

Alex and Reilly appear together in 2 published lists, across 41 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Reilly in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Reilly 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 · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Reilly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Reilly #569 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Reilly #3688.
England and Wales · Girls12 shared years, 1998–2020
Alex held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Reilly in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #179 in 1998, Reilly #3409 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Alex #1556, Reilly #3899.

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
See the 2024 England and Wales ranking
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
See the 2024 England and Wales ranking
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
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
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
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alex, Reilly
Field	Alex	Reilly
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, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observation	Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025)	Scotland · Boys #535 (2024)
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); Reilly does not have one recorded yet.
Alex and Reilly both have 2 syllables.
A meaning is recorded for Alex; Reilly 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

Reilly

Popularity journey

First recorded1996
First recorded at #2357 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2006–2017
Highest recorded position: #291 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 2006–2017).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3688 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys