Alex
Meaning: not confirmed (origin debated)
About the name Alex
The origin of Alex is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to Greek roots, with the meaning âDefender of the peopleâ. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Alex we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a classic, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Alex ranked #232 for boys in the US, with 1,515 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 1993.
- US rank 2025
- #232
- In 2015
- #134
- Babies in 2025
- 1,515
Popularity of Alex, 1940â2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Nicknames for Alex
Alex is already short and sweet, so it doesn't usually get a nickname.
Names similar to Alex
Name meanings marked or linked âWiktionaryâ are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.