Alex vs Samir
Alex and Samircompared 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 2021, Alex was ranked #21 and Samir #552 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Samir #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Samir #898 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alex was ranked #259 and Samir #518 among boys in Norway.
Alex and Samir over time
Alex and Samir appear together in 3 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Samir in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Samir 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.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Samir changed places 12 times in Norway · Boys between 1960 and 2025, ending at #259 and #518.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Samir were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 55 years, from 1960 to 2025, ending at #259 and #518.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alex #42 in 2002, Samir #328 in 2004.
List by list
Norway · Boys55 shared years, 1960–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Samir in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alex #154 in 2009, Samir #275 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #259, Samir #518.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Samir in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Samir #328 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Samir #898.
Republic of Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 2003–2021
Alex held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Samir in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Samir #423 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Alex #21, Samir #552.
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 | Samir |
|---|---|---|
| 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-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Norway · Boys #518 (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); Samir does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Samir both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Samir 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
Samir
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #445 among boys in Norway in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1957–2025
Highest recorded position: #275 among boys in Norway, in 1964 (recorded 1957–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #518 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys