Alex vs Sonny
Alex and Sonnycompared 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 2025, Alex was ranked #37 and Sonny #28 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Sonny #44 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Sonny #51 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Sonny #74 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alex was ranked #2253 and Sonny #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Sonny over time
Alex and Sonny appear together in 3 published lists, across 71 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sonny in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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, and Sonny 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.
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 moved ahead of the other
In 2019, Sonny moved ahead of Alex in England and Wales · Boys — #91 and #99 the year before became #106 and #103.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Sonny in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Sonny #51 in 2024.
The order changed in 2019: Sonny moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #91 and #99; by 2019 that had become #106 and #103.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Sonny #51.
Republic of Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 2001–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Sonny in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Sonny #28 in 2025.
The order changed in 2025: Sonny moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #36 and #38; by 2025 that had become #37 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Sonny #28.
Northern Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 2006–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Sonny in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Sonny #74 in 2024.
The order changed in 2023: Sonny moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #77 and #101; by 2023 that had become #113 and #98.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Sonny #74.
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 | Sonny |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #28 (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); Sonny does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Sonny both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Sonny doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, 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
Sonny
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #237 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 recorded2001–2025
Highest recorded position: #28 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025 (recorded 2001–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #40 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys