Alex
Alex was the 232nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,515 babies. Its best year was 1995, when it ranked 47th; the most babies were born in 1993 (7,639). Over the last ten years it has moved down 98 places. More babies were named Alex in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Meaning defender (short form of Alexander) · Greek
Say it AL-iks /ˈælɪks/
- Rank in 2025
- #232 boys, down 49 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,515boys
- Girls and boys
- 6% girls, 94% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19937,639 babies
- Total since 1880
- 295,991babies recorded
What does the name Alex mean?
Alex is a short form of Alexander and Alexandra, and also of Alexis and related names, used today as a name in its own right for both boys and girls. Wiktionary and Wikipedia both trace it to the Greek verb alexein, 'to defend, to protect'. Alexander adds aner, 'man', so 'defender of men' according to DMNES; Alexis and Alexius come from the same verb with the sense 'helper, defender'. The two sources cannot be told apart in the short form.
ἀλέξειν (Ancient Greek, “to defend, protect”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Alexander, Alexandra, Alexis, Alec, Xander, Lexi.
See also: Greek names, names that mean protector.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Alex', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Alex', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Alexander', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
Alex popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,487 | #232 | 71 | 1,515 |
| 2020 | #1,294 | #183 | 171 | 2,122 |
| 2010 | #1,352 | #93 | 173 | 4,442 |
| 2000 | #913 | #62 | 239 | 6,748 |
| 1990 | #802 | #59 | 250 | 6,951 |
| 1980 | #2,941 | #156 | 30 | 1,681 |
| 1970 | #3,874 | #191 | 15 | 1,403 |
| 1960 | #2,989 | #226 | 17 | 1,230 |
| 1950 | #3,669 | #244 | 9 | 749 |
| 1940 | #3,872 | #208 | 6 | 620 |
| 1930 | #2,426 | #180 | 13 | 760 |
| 1920 | #2,902 | #142 | 11 | 1,069 |
| 1910 | — | #127 | — | 256 |
| 1900 | — | #120 | — | 192 |
| 1890 | — | #111 | — | 147 |
| 1880 | — | #92 | — | 147 |
How popular is Alex, counting every spelling?
Alex is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #250 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #232 for Alex on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,524 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex | 1,515 | #232 | 9,032 |
| Aleks | 9 | #8,277 | 54 |
| Alexx | — | — | 29 |
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 Alex?
1,515 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Alex (0.42 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Alex 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 6 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Alex.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Alex?
About 242,600 people born in the US named Alex are alive today, with a median age of 29; half are between 20 and 38. That makes Alex 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.
Alex by state
How common Alex was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Nevada (1.8×), Florida (1.7×), California (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in West Virginia, Idaho, Missouri.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Alex: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Alex, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Alex · Sibling names for Alex
Alex is also a nickname for Alexander, Alejandro, Alexandra, Alexandria, Alexis, Alessandro and Alejandra.
Questions about the name Alex
What does Alex mean?
Alex means “defender (short form of Alexander)” (Greek origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Alex?
Alex was the 232nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,515 babies. Its best year was 1995, when it ranked 47th; the most babies were born in 1993 (7,639). Over the last ten years it has moved down 98 places. More babies were named Alex in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Is Alex a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 6% girls, 94% boys given the name Alex in the US.
Where is Alex most popular?
In 2021–2025, Alex was most common in Nevada (1.91 per 1,000 boys), followed by Florida and California.