Alex vs Reuben
Alex and Reubencompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Reuben #33 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Reuben #34 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alex was ranked #37 and Reuben #156 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Reuben #38 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2010, Alex was ranked #48 and Reuben #86 among boys in New Zealand.
Alex and Reuben over time
Alex and Reuben appear together in 4 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Reuben in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Reuben 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.
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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Reuben moved into the top 50 at #44 in 2015 as Alex fell out of it to #51, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2013, Reuben moved ahead of Alex in England and Wales · Boys — #65 and #68 the year before became #65 and #54.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Reuben changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1988 and 2010, ending at #48 and #86.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alex and Reuben averaged 23.2 places apart, ending at #48 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Reuben were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 37 years, from 1972 to 2025, ending at #37 and #156.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Alex #27 in 2004, Reuben #44 in 2003.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys37 shared years, 1972–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Reuben in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Reuben #125 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Reuben #156.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Reuben in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Reuben #33 in 2024.
The order changed in 2013: Reuben moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #65 and #68; by 2013 that had become #65 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Reuben #33.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Reuben in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Reuben #32 in 2023.
The order changed in 2015: Reuben moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #42 and #60; by 2015 that had become #51 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Reuben #34.
New Zealand · Boys20 shared years, 1988–2010
Alex held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Reuben in 5.
Highest recorded here: Alex #27 in 2004, Reuben #44 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Alex #48, Reuben #86.
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 | Reuben |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #85 (2025) |
| 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); Reuben does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Reuben both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Reuben doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
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
Reuben
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 recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #32 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #85 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys