Girl name origins & meanings
- Greek: Defender of mankind; feminine form of Alexander
Girl name variations
Boy name origins & meanings
- Greek: Protector of mankind
What does Alex mean and stand for?
The name Alex is of Greek origin and means "protector of mankind." It is a diminutive of both Alexander and Alexis.
Syllables: 2
Discover more baby name meanings to learn what's behind every name.
Boy name variations
Family name origins & meanings
Famous people with this first name
Famous people who gave their babies this name
Popularity of the Name Alex
According to Social Security Administration data, Alex has been rapidly decreasing in popularity after falling out of the top 100 in 2013. The long-form name, Alexander, is still much more popular.
However, it is the 47th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.
According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years, Alex was at its peak popularity in November 2020.
Alex is one of the most uni-sex names there is, almost evenly used among boys and girls. Some notable namesakes include singer Alex Day, actor Alex Pettyfer, and singer Alex Turner. Alex is also popular in pop culture, appearing in Grey's Anatomy, A Clockwork Orange, The X Files, and Pretty Little Liars.
Where is the name Alex popular?
Alex was searched for most often in the following states:
Nicknames for Alex
- Al
- Alli
- Lex
- Lexi
Alex pairs well with these middle names:
Appears on:
- Top 20 Pisces Baby Names
- Pet Names as First Names
- The Top Double Names When You Can't Choose Just One
