Alek
Alek was the 2604th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 50 babies. Its best year was 1994, when it ranked 935th; the most babies were born in 1999 (154). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,287 places. More babies were named Alek in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Alec) short form of Alexander · Scottish, Greek
- Rank in 2025
- #2,604 boys, down 1,086 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 50boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1999154 babies
- Total since 1880
- 4,649babies recorded
What does the name Alek mean?
Alek is a spelling of Alec, pronounced the same way, so it shares Alec's meaning and origin.
Alec is a short form of Alexander, originally Scottish. Alexander is from Greek Alexandros, made of alexein 'to defend, protect' and anēr, andros 'man', so 'defender of men'. The name was spread by Alexander the Great and was a royal name in Scotland, where Alec and Alick became common short forms. The actors Alec Guinness and Alec Baldwin are well-known bearers.
ἀλέξειν (alexein) (Ancient Greek, “to defend”)ἀνήρ (anēr) (Ancient Greek, “man”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Alexander, Alex, Alick, Alexis.
See also: Greek names, names that mean protector.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Alec', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Alexander', DMNES (Durham University)
Alek popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 86 since 1992.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,604 | 50 |
| 2020 | #1,518 | 110 |
| 2010 | #1,278 | 136 |
| 2000 | #973 | 154 |
| 1990 | #1,420 | 62 |
| 1980 | #4,949 | 7 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Alek, counting every spelling?
Alek is a spelling of Alec, a name family that ranked #824 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #2,604 for Alek on its own. Together these spellings went to 284 boys in 2025.
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Alek?
50 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Alek (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Alek born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 167 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Alek.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Alek?
About 4,500 people born in the US named Alek are alive today, with a median age of 20; half are between 12 and 28. That makes Alek mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Alek by state
How common Alek was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Arizona (3.5×), Texas (2.2×), California (1.8×). In 45 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Alek: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Alek, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Alek
What does Alek mean?
Alek is a spelling of Alec, which means “short form of Alexander” (Scottish, Greek origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Alek?
Alek was the 2604th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 50 babies. Its best year was 1994, when it ranked 935th; the most babies were born in 1999 (154). Over the last ten years it has moved down 1,287 places. More babies were named Alek in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Alek a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Alek in the US.
Where is Alek most popular?
In 2021–2025, Alek was most common in Arizona (0.17 per 1,000 boys), followed by Texas and California.