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Alex
Meaning: defender of people (short form of Alexander) · Origin: Greek / English · Gender: usually a boy's name
Origin & history
Alex is a short form of Alexander and Alexandra, from Greek Alexandros, 'defender of people'. It is widely used as an independent unisex name.
Popularity of Alex in the US, 1880–2025
2025: 1,515 US baby boys named Alex — #232 for boys · Peak: 7,639 in 1993 · 1950: 749 · 2000: 6,748 · 2020: 2,122
Source: US Social Security Administration (SSA) national baby-name data, 1880–2025 (names.zip). Counts are babies of that gender given exactly this spelling each year; SSA leaves out a name in any year with fewer than 5 births.
How to pronounce Alex
AL-eks · IPA /ˈæləks/ (common American English pronunciation)
Language of origin
Short form of Alexander or Alexandra — defender of men
How the meaning and use of Alex developed
Alex is a widely used short form of Alexander and Alexandra and is now an independent unisex given name.
Related names from the same root
Sibling names that go well with Alex
Sister: Ana · Stevie
Brother: Justin · Xander
Our editorial suggestions — similar era, style and length — chosen from names with full pages on this site.
Nicknames
Al
Variants & related names
Alex name art
A free preview of a printable “Alex” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
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FAQ
What does the name Alex mean?
Alex means “defender of people (short form of Alexander)”. It comes from Greek / English.
How do you pronounce Alex?
Alex is usually pronounced AL-eks (/ˈæləks/).
Is Alex a popular name?
In 2025, Alex ranked #232 among boys' names in the United States, given to 1,515 baby boys, according to US Social Security Administration data. Its peak year was 1993 (7,639 babies).
What are nicknames for Alex?
Al.
What are other forms of Alex?
Alexander, Alexis, Alejandro.
What are good sibling names for Alex?
Sister: Ana, Stevie. Brother: Justin, Xander.
Similar names
Xander · Theodore · Sebastian · Alexander · Luke · Christopher
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Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.