Alex vs Salma
Alex and Salmacompared 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 · Girls
In 2025, Alex was ranked #304 and Salma #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Salma #722 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Salma over time
Alex and Salma appear together in 2 published lists, across 44 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Alex reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Salma 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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Salma in 18.
Highest recorded here: Alex #161 in 1996, Salma #295 in 2003.
The order changed in 2007: Salma moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #279 and #333; by 2007 that had become #350 and #319.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #2253, Salma #722.
Republic of Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 2001–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Salma in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #93 in 2004, Salma #471 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #304, Salma #544.
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 | Salma |
|---|---|---|
| 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-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Norway · Girls #416 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Salma does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Salma both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Salma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
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
Salma
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #433 among girls in Norway in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1953–2025
Highest recorded position: #228 among girls in Norway, in 2017 (recorded 1953–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #416 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls