Alex Name Meaning

The name Alex is a shortened version of the name Alexander, which means “defender of man.” It’s a strong and powerful name that represents courage and strength. It’s also a name that has a classic feel to it and has been a popular choice for centuries.

History of the Name Alex

The name Alex is a shortened version of the name Alexander, which is of Greek origin. The name Alexander comes from the Greek words “alexein” which means “to defend” and “andros” which means “man.”

Alexander the Great, the king of Macedon, was one of the most famous historical figures to have this name, he was known as a great military leader, and is considered one of the most successful military commanders of all time.

Popularity of the Name Alex

The name Alex has been a popular choice for centuries and continues to be a popular choice today. It’s a strong and powerful name that represents courage and strength. It’s also a name that has a classic feel to it, which makes it a popular choice among parents.

In the US, Alex has been a popular name since the late 1800s, peaking in popularity in the mid-20th century. It has been a constant name in the top 1000 for boys for the past century, with a steady decline in popularity in recent years.

Final Thoughts on the Name Alex

Alex is a versatile name, it can be short for Alexander, Alexis, Alexandra, and even Alexanderia. It’s a name that has been used by people in all walks of life, from royalty to athletes, actors, and more.

In conclusion, the name Alex is a classic and timeless name that has been around for centuries. It’s a strong and powerful name that represents courage and strength and has a classic feel to it. It’s a shortened version of the name Alexander, which means “defender of man”. Its popularity has fluctuated over the years, but it has been consistently a top 1000 name for boys for a century. It’s a versatile name and can be short for many different names. So, if you’re looking for a classic and timeless name that represents courage and strength, Alex might just be the perfect choice.

Infographic of Alex name meaning, which is A shortened form of Alexander, Alex is a Greek name meaning defender of man.
Ask your friends & family about Alex…

Alex Name Popularity

How popular is the name Alex? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 229 0.065%
1911 — 228 0.0612%
1912 — 446 0.0884%
1913 — 577 0.1018%
1914 — 762 0.1093%
1915 — 981 0.108%
1916 — 1,082 0.112%
1917 — 1,063 0.1063%
1918 — 1,188 0.1107%
1919 — 1,066 0.1018%
1920 — 1,041 0.0936%
1921 — 999 0.0872%
1922 — 974 0.0874%
1923 — 904 0.0807%
1924 — 962 0.0828%
1925 — 882 0.078%
1926 — 773 0.0703%
1927 — 853 0.0771%
1928 — 766 0.0716%
1929 — 750 0.0724%
1930 — 721 0.069%
1931 — 703 0.0712%
1932 — 658 0.0666%
1933 — 573 0.0615%
1934 — 585 0.0605%
1935 — 547 0.0563%
1936 — 523 0.0543%
1937 — 533 0.0541%
1938 — 572 0.0559%
1939 — 567 0.0557%
1940 — 581 0.0547%
1941 — 592 0.0526%
1942 — 643 0.0509%
1943 — 629 0.0482%
1944 — 593 0.0478%
1945 — 597 0.049%
1946 — 675 0.0457%
1947 — 760 0.0455%
1948 — 731 0.0458%
1949 — 690 0.0429%
1950 — 723 0.0449%
1951 — 658 0.0388%
1952 — 664 0.038%
1953 — 676 0.0382%
1954 — 709 0.0388%
1955 — 671 0.0365%
1956 — 758 0.0401%
1957 — 860 0.0447%
1958 — 989 0.0523%
1959 — 1,144 0.0602%
1960 — 1,201 0.0634%
1961 — 1,179 0.0624%
1962 — 1,235 0.0673%
1963 — 1,287 0.0717%
1964 — 1,219 0.0693%
1965 — 1,223 0.0748%
1966 — 993 0.0636%
1967 — 1,099 0.0724%
1968 — 1,138 0.0758%
1969 — 1,198 0.0778%
1970 — 1,388 0.0872%
1971 — 1,349 0.0898%
1972 — 1,152 0.0846%
1973 — 1,216 0.0938%
1974 — 1,364 0.1049%
1975 — 1,314 0.1023%
1976 — 1,334 0.1035%
1977 — 1,600 0.1187%
1978 — 1,449 0.1078%
1979 — 1,632 0.1157%
1980 — 1,667 0.114%
1981 — 1,857 0.1263%
1982 — 1,950 0.1305%
1983 — 2,152 0.1458%
1984 — 3,023 0.2032%
1985 — 3,900 0.2569%
1986 — 5,108 0.3384%
1987 — 6,041 0.3959%
1988 — 6,404 0.4109%
1989 — 6,538 0.4052%
1990 — 6,943 0.4189%
1991 — 6,672 0.4093%
1992 — 7,348 0.4604%
1993 — 7,637 0.4899%
1994 — 7,240 0.4718%
1995 — 7,423 0.4925%
1996 — 6,911 0.4616%
1997 — 6,855 0.4635%
1998 — 6,951 0.4644%
1999 — 6,826 0.4558%
2000 — 6,746 0.4416%
2001 — 6,614 0.439%
2002 — 6,806 0.4542%
2003 — 6,792 0.4464%
2004 — 6,810 0.4468%
2005 — 6,482 0.424%
2006 — 6,670 0.426%
2007 — 6,271 0.3975%
2008 — 5,395 0.3491%
2009 — 5,168 0.3458%
2010 — 4,422 0.3069%
2011 — 4,026 0.2826%
2012 — 3,847 0.27%
2013 — 3,539 0.2486%
2014 — 3,169 0.2175%
2015 — 3,088 0.2122%
2016 — 2,831 0.1963%
2017 — 2,569 0.1841%
2018 — 2,492 0.1814%
2019 — 2,358 0.1742%
2020 — 2,045 0.1607%
2021 — 1,927 0.1576%
2022 — 1,972 0.1495%
2023 — 1,792 0.1385%

Alaska (AK)

Alabama (AL)

Arkansas (AR)

Arizona (AZ)

California (CA)

Colorado (CO)

Connecticut (CT)

District of Columbia (DC)

Delaware (DE)

Florida (FL)

Georgia (GA)

Hawaii (HI)

Iowa (IA)

Idaho (ID)

Illinois (IL)

Indiana (IN)

Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Massachusetts (MA)

Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)

Nebraska (NE)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM)

Nevada (NV)

New York (NY)

Ohio (OH)

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)

Pennsylvania (PA)

Rhode Island (RI)

South Carolina (SC)

South Dakota (SD)

Tennessee (TN)

Texas (TX)

Utah (UT)

Virginia (VA)

Vermont (VT)

Washington (WA)

Wisconsin (WI)

West Virginia (WV)

Wyoming (WY)

Data via SSA.gov.


Names Like Alex

If you like Alex, you’ll love these other names like Alex.


What names are variants of Alex?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Alex.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Alec

Form of Alexander

Scottish

Aleck

Man's defender, warrior

Greek

Alecko

Man's defender, warrior

Greek

Aleco

Man's defender, warrior

Greek

Alek

Man's defender, warrior

Greek

Aleko

Man's defender, warrior

Greek

Aleks

Man's defender, warrior

Greek

Alick

Man's defender, warrior

Scottish

Alik

Man's defender, warrior

Greek

Allex

Man's defender, warrior

Greek

Elex

Man's defender, warrior

Greek


What names sound like Alex?

If you like how Alex sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Alex.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Alexi

Man's defender, warrior; defender, protector

Greek

Alexy

Defender, protector

Greek

Alix

Man's defender, warrior

Greek


Lists With Alex

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Alex.


Siblings of Alex

Mamas with kids named Alex also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Jacob

Supplanter

Hebrew

Josiah

God supports

Hebrew

22 Comments

  1. His full name is Alexander and his middle name is Jaxon that way I can.call him AJ.

  2. I met him in a dream and then prayed about it a lot 🙂

  3. ANYONE CALLED ALEX IS AN IDIOIT

    • Like you?IDIOT

    • I am an idiot

  4. i think its a cool name because it means bravery and it meant they will protect anyone they know and love

  5. It’s a good and hard working name.

  6. Cute

  7. simple
    international
    strong

  8. We wanted a name without a nickname or that was the nickname, clearly a first name (vs a surname), pronounceable in English and Spanish, and not a repeat of our friends’ babies’ names. It was not easy, but Alex fit the bill!

  9. Close friend that passed

  10. My husband chose this name because it is one of his favorite. I like this name because it means ‘man if war’ and since we are Christians, we would like for him to be a ‘soldier’ (one who stands up) for the Lord.
    I wished he had a more intricate name, but we couldn’t find one both me and my husband would agree on.

  11. My girls choose the name

  12. Alex is a strong name that also translates well into different languages/cultures. You have the option of using the full name or the shorter version. It’s very versatile and I would have to say it’s pretty cool name as well! 😉

  13. I named my son Alex because every Alex I have came across in life has been successful.

    • Hey tell Alex not be friends with amilia ok at school bec she trouble bec she like to pee in her pant anc pee in her bed and play with baby toy and suck on noodle

  14. Named him after his dad

  15. Very outgoing and fun

  16. Because that’s the only name out of the whole damn book that my partner would consider :p Luckily it was already on my list of preferred names but not the one I had in mind. I got over it and now having met my little boy, Alex suits him perfectly so I have no regrets.

    Reasons: Short, not too frequent or trendy, not extravagant, not biblical or religious in any way, international, no spelling confusion. Also, my partner’s first name starts with A, mine with E and we met in Lisbon, which is LX for short. So it all makes sense. 🙂

  17. I name my baby after his father


Share your thoughts on the name Alex

Your email address will not be published. All fields are required *

*