Alex vs Terry
Alex and Terrycompared 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 Terry #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Alex was ranked #77 and Terry #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Terry #2263 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2011, Alex was ranked #652 and Terry #5785 among girls in England and Wales.
Alex and Terry over time
Alex and Terry appear together in 2 published lists, across 75 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Terry in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Terry reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Alex 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Terry changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1972 and 2025, ending at #37 and #509.
- Mirrored each other
Over 46 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alex rose about as far as Terry fell — from #279 and #307 in 1972 to #37 and #509 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Terry were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 46 years, from 1972 to 2025, ending at #37 and #509.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys46 shared years, 1972–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Terry in 7.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Terry #177 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Terry #509.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Terry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Terry #301 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Terry #2263.
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 | Terry |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (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); Terry does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex and Terry both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Terry doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Terry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #60 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1972
Highest recorded position: #49 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1959 (recorded 1952–1972).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys