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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

How common is Alex?

43 replies

lemoncurdcupcake · 29/03/2026 22:40

for children under 5?

Alexander or Alexandra...but go by Alex rather than Xander/Sasha/Sandra/Lexi etc.

I keep hearing and reading it's been done to death/very common in the UK at the moment but other than one 10 year old who lives abroad I don't know a single one under the age of 30. Not one in our local primary school for example. Friend who is a nursery worker hasn't seen one in years either.

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BertieBotts · 29/03/2026 22:58

But these days there is much more diversity in naming compared to when we were at school anyway. If you compare these lists today to the ones from the 90s or even more so for older ones, you'll see that the top names in the past used to occupy a much larger percentage than they do today.

https://www.behindthename.com/top/lists/england-wales/2024

For example in 1996, the top 5 boys' names covered nearly 15% of all names given that year, whereas for 2024, the top 5 are only 6.6% of all names given. And this includes Muhammad which is an outlier because many Muslim parents use this name for boys as their official name but call them another name day to day. The top 5 names (apart from Muhammad) are all about 1% each, which in 1996, was more like the names at rank 15-25.

In 2024 Alexander was at position 36 and used for 0.45% of boys. This is about as prevalent as Dominic or Nicholas in 1996.

Popular Names in England and Wales

Popular Names in England and Wales 2024 (top 1000)

https://www.behindthename.com/top/lists/england-wales/2024

Meecrowavay · 29/03/2026 22:56

Great classic name that suits a 1 year old as much as a 90 year old. Popular but not done to death like Jack. Although I’d much rather my kid had a “plain” name like Alex or Jack than an ultra fashionable one or obscure one that everyone has to ask to spell (I speak from experience on the latter here!)

SparklyBrickViper · 29/03/2026 22:53

One colleague in their 30’s is an Alex.
ones son is approaching 21.
Ones son is 8.

Think there are 2 (possibly 3) in my nephews years (he is 6).

HitMePlease34 · 29/03/2026 22:51

It's a really plain choice of name.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 29/03/2026 22:51

names.darkgreener.com/#alex

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 29/03/2026 22:50

When I was a teacher, I taught two boys called Alex in the same class. They’d be 11/12 now. I also have a friend with a 5yo Alex. All boys.

I think it’s a fairly timeless name. I knew a few at school when I was there and I’m in my 30s.

bluebunnyblue · 29/03/2026 22:48

There are 3 Alexes in my 11yo's class and one in my 9yo's.

kathryn77 · 29/03/2026 22:48

My Ds13 has 7 Sebastian’s in his year group of 90 😂

NigellaDelia · 29/03/2026 22:48

I'm just wondering if it's regional ~ I think Alexander/Alexandra are traditional in Scotland so there may be more Alex's there than in other parts of the UK?

kathryn77 · 29/03/2026 22:47

All male Alex

kathryn77 · 29/03/2026 22:46

1 in my DS1 year - age 17
1 in my DS2 year - age 13

colleague son has it as a middle name.

not overly popular here. Worcestershire but lovely name

Original poster
lemoncurdcupcake · 29/03/2026 22:46

@SparklyBrickViper I know a fair few adults of both genders but reading these forums suggests it's becoming very overused for the current generation. Which doesn't match my experience 😅

Thanks @franksmama. Agree it's timeless, one of the oldest names still widely in use I believe. Just wondering if it's one of those which is popular on name forums but not necessarily matched with real world examples.

It's our front runner at the moment, but wouldn't want it to be like I was where I was one of 5 in my year at school.

OP posts:
girljulian · 29/03/2026 22:46

Two colleagues of mine have Alexanders under five. It is a common name but I think it’s nice that it isn’t tied to either sex or any particular generation — anyone could be an Alex!

Blueberryme · 29/03/2026 22:45

It is my DS(11) middle name and I’ve never come across another boy of the same name.

I’ve never heard of it being done to death either, but then you can say that about all the Oliver’s and Lily’s too - my view is if you like it then use it and don’t worry about popularity or if other people hate it/think it’s dated etc.

Listlostlast · 29/03/2026 22:44

I don’t think I know of any little ones at all… or even young ones for that matter! I know really quite a few (understatement!) around my age (31) and older but I don’t think it’s so commonly used for babies these days.

franksmama · 29/03/2026 22:42

There are two in my DS’ childminder cohort (out of six children!)

Both are 15 month old boys. It’s a lovely, timeless name so has always been popular.

SparklyBrickViper · 29/03/2026 22:42

I have four colleagues. 3 of them are either varying degrees of Alex or their children are.

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