Alex
English · Boy · 2 syllables
Popularity & facts
Relative popularity index, 2010–2025Popularity over time
Popularity indexHistorical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data
About the name Alex
Alex is a shortened form of Alexander, derived from the Greek name Alexandros, meaning "defender of men" or "protector of men" from the Greek elements "alexein" (to defend) and "aner" (man).
Cross-referenced with Wikidata/Wikipedia. AI-assisted, community-reviewable. Suggest an improvement.
Etymology
Alex is a shortened form of Alexander, derived from the Greek name Alexandros, meaning "defender of men" or "protector of men" from the Greek elements "alexein" (to defend) and "aner" (man). The name became widespread across Western, Eastern European, and Middle Eastern cultures due to Alexander the Great, and is used secularly across Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and non-religious communities.
Alex currently ranks #232 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 1993.
Variants & nicknames
Contribute to this name
Help improve this page with a meaning, origin, or correction—and get credited as a contributor.
Share your knowledge about this name—meaning, origin, pronunciation, or correction. Your contribution is reviewed and credited with your name.
Login to contributeWe use Google & Facebook login — no password needed.
Sibling name ideas
English, Dutch, German, French, Portuguese, Romanian, Greek, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, names that sit beautifully beside AlexSimilar names you might like
Names starting with AMore names starting with A
- Aaron
- Aada
- Aava
- Aarti
- Aaliyah
- Aathira
- Aaro
- Aarav
- Aadhya
- Abbie
- Aarne
- Aakash
- Aayan
- Aariv
- Aarya
- Aamir
- Aarohi
- Aaira
🧬 See Alex's popularity the year you were born →
🔢 Get Alex's free numerology report card →
💫 Is Alex your name? Get your free “My name means…” card →
👶 Have a Alex already? Find sibling names that fit →
💬 Does Alex go with your surname? Check the rhythm, rhyme and initials →
✨ Get stylish & fancy text versions of Alex →
Names that sound like Alex
Phonetic match, not just spelling"The given name 'Alice' is derived from the Germanic word 'alis,' meaning 'noble' or 'kind,' and is related to the…"
"Alicja means "noble" and derives from the Germanic name Alice, which comes from the Old German elements "adal" (noble) and…"
"Alicia is the Latinate feminine form of the name Alcius, derived from the Germanic root "adal" meaning "noble," making the…"
"Alisa is a diminutive form of Alice, derived from the Germanic name Adalheidis, meaning "noble" (adal) and "kind/sort" (heid), which…"
"Aleksi means "defender" or "helper of mankind" and derives from the Greek name Alexios, itself rooted in the Greek word…"
"Alix is a feminine given name meaning "noble" or "of noble kind," derived from the Old Germanic name Adalheidis through…"
"Aleksej means "defender" or "helper of mankind," derived from the Greek name Alexios, composed of the elements "alexein" (to defend)…"
"Alessio means "defender" or "helper" and derives from the Greek name Alexios (Ἀλέξιος), itself rooted in the Greek word "alexein"…"
"Aleix means "defender of men" and derives from the Greek name Alexander, formed from the elements "alexein" (to defend) and…"
"Alexia derives from the Greek name Alexios, formed from the root "alexein" meaning "to defend" or "to help," and carries…"
"Ales is a Slavic diminutive form of Aleksei/Alexei, derived from the Greek name Alexander, meaning "defender of men" from the…"
"Aleks means "defender of men" and derives from the Greek name Alexandros, composed of the elements alexein (to defend) and…"