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.
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Alex Name Popularity

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

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 117 229 0.065%
1911 129 228 0.0612%
1912 135 446 0.0884%
1913 130 577 0.1018%
1914 129 762 0.1093%
1915 131 981 0.108%
1916 126 1,082 0.112%
1917 132 1,063 0.1063%
1918 131 1,188 0.1107%
1919 137 1,066 0.1018%
1920 142 1,041 0.0936%
1921 148 999 0.0872%
1922 154 974 0.0874%
1923 163 904 0.0807%
1924 161 962 0.0828%
1925 163 882 0.078%
1926 179 773 0.0703%
1927 169 853 0.0771%
1928 179 766 0.0716%
1929 179 750 0.0724%
1930 183 721 0.069%
1931 181 703 0.0712%
1932 191 658 0.0666%
1933 197 573 0.0615%
1934 199 585 0.0605%
1935 207 547 0.0563%
1936 211 523 0.0543%
1937 211 533 0.0541%
1938 205 572 0.0559%
1939 205 567 0.0557%
1940 209 581 0.0547%
1941 212 592 0.0526%
1942 216 643 0.0509%
1943 219 629 0.0482%
1944 218 593 0.0478%
1945 218 597 0.049%
1946 225 675 0.0457%
1947 228 760 0.0455%
1948 233 731 0.0458%
1949 241 690 0.0429%
1950 242 723 0.0449%
1951 254 658 0.0388%
1952 259 664 0.038%
1953 261 676 0.0382%
1954 260 709 0.0388%
1955 268 671 0.0365%
1956 258 758 0.0401%
1957 254 860 0.0447%
1958 245 989 0.0523%
1959 234 1,144 0.0602%
1960 226 1,201 0.0634%
1961 228 1,179 0.0624%
1962 218 1,235 0.0673%
1963 211 1,287 0.0717%
1964 218 1,219 0.0693%
1965 201 1,223 0.0748%
1966 219 993 0.0636%
1967 205 1,099 0.0724%
1968 201 1,138 0.0758%
1969 204 1,198 0.0778%
1970 191 1,388 0.0872%
1971 187 1,349 0.0898%
1972 197 1,152 0.0846%
1973 185 1,216 0.0938%
1974 171 1,364 0.1049%
1975 174 1,314 0.1023%
1976 171 1,334 0.1035%
1977 152 1,600 0.1187%
1978 164 1,449 0.1078%
1979 155 1,632 0.1157%
1980 156 1,667 0.114%
1981 148 1,857 0.1263%
1982 143 1,950 0.1305%
1983 123 2,152 0.1458%
1984 93 3,023 0.2032%
1985 80 3,900 0.2569%
1986 64 5,108 0.3384%
1987 60 6,041 0.3959%
1988 58 6,404 0.4109%
1989 60 6,538 0.4052%
1990 59 6,943 0.4189%
1991 63 6,672 0.4093%
1992 54 7,348 0.4604%
1993 52 7,637 0.4899%
1994 50 7,240 0.4718%
1995 47 7,423 0.4925%
1996 54 6,911 0.4616%
1997 55 6,855 0.4635%
1998 56 6,951 0.4644%
1999 58 6,826 0.4558%
2000 62 6,746 0.4416%
2001 62 6,614 0.439%
2002 63 6,806 0.4542%
2003 62 6,792 0.4464%
2004 63 6,810 0.4468%
2005 71 6,482 0.424%
2006 67 6,670 0.426%
2007 71 6,271 0.3975%
2008 84 5,395 0.3491%
2009 83 5,168 0.3458%
2010 93 4,422 0.3069%
2011 95 4,026 0.2826%
2012 98 3,847 0.27%
2013 110 3,539 0.2486%
2014 128 3,169 0.2175%
2015 134 3,088 0.2122%
2016 147 2,831 0.1963%
2017 151 2,569 0.1841%
2018 153 2,492 0.1814%
2019 165 2,358 0.1742%
2020 183 2,045 0.1607%
2021 194 1,927 0.1576%
2022 190 1,972 0.1495%
2023 205 1,792 0.1385%

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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

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

    Reply

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

    Reply

  5. ANYONE CALLED ALEX IS AN IDIOIT

    Reply

    • Like you?IDIOT

      Reply

    • I am an idiot

      Reply

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

    Reply

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

    Reply

  8. Cute

    Reply

  9. simple
    international
    strong

    Reply

  10. 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!

    Reply

  11. Close friend that passed

    Reply

  12. 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.

    Reply

  13. My girls choose the name

    Reply

  14. 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! 😉

    Reply

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

    Reply

    • 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

      Reply

  16. Named him after his dad

    Reply

  17. Very outgoing and fun

    Reply

  18. 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. 🙂

    Reply

  19. I name my baby after his father

    Reply

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