Unisex name · Greek
Alex
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: defender, protectorAlex is a gender-neutral name that comes from Greek and means "defender, protector". It is used in English, German, Russian and Spanish.
- Meaning
- Defender, protector
- Origin
- Greek
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #2487 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Alex
As a gender-neutral name, Alex comes from Greek and means "defender, protector". It is used in English, German and Russian.
As a boy's name, Alex comes from Greek and means "defender of men". It is used in Spanish. In Spanish it is spelled Álex.
In Spanish, say AH-leks. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Alex on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Alex on 5 lists.
“The classic unisex short form, sporty and easy”
From Nicknames for Alexa, classic nicknames for Alexa
“African grey studied for 30 years by Irene Pepperberg”
From Bird names, famous real birds
“Defender, protector; Greek, the short form for both genders”
From Gender neutral names, short gender-neutral names
“Short form for the Rapides Parish seat, often pronounced Ellic”
From Louisiana nicknames, louisiana city nicknames
“Defender of men; Greek. Short for Alejandro. Say AH-leks”
From Spanish boy names, popular Spanish boy names in Spain (INE 2024)
How popular is Alex?
In 2025, 71 girls and 1,515 boys in the US were named Alex.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #2,487
- 71 babies, 44 per million girls
- Best rank
- #537 in 1995
- 441 babies that year
- Babies since 1915
- At least 9,822
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 5 per million |
| 1920s | 8 per million |
| 1930s | 6 per million |
| 1940s | 4 per million |
| 1950s | 5 per million |
| 1960s | 7 per million |
| 1970s | 12 per million |
| 1980s | 68 per million |
| 1990s | 193 per million |
| 2000s | 116 per million |
| 2010s | 95 per million |
| 2020s | 73 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,338 | #1,251 | #1,325 | #1,460 | #1,294 | #1,613 | #1,478 | #1,966 | #2,151 | #2,487 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #232
- 1,515 babies, 887 per million boys
- Best rank
- #47 in 1995
- Most babies: 7,639 in 1993
- Babies since 1880
- At least 286,169
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 1,325 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 1,269 per million |
| 1900s | 1,285 per million |
| 1910s | 1,179 per million |
| 1920s | 833 per million |
| 1930s | 597 per million |
| 1940s | 460 per million |
| 1950s | 405 per million |
| 1960s | 625 per million |
| 1970s | 847 per million |
| 1980s | 2,097 per million |
| 1990s | 3,636 per million |
| 2000s | 3,195 per million |
| 2010s | 1,734 per million |
| 2020s | 1,076 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #146 | #151 | #153 | #165 | #183 | #192 | #190 | #203 | #205 | #232 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Alex
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- ShuraDefender, protector (Greek, unisex)
Names spelled like Alex
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- AlexaDefender of men (Greek, girl)
- AlemWorld (Amharic, unisex)
- AlevFlame (Turkish, unisex)
- AlixNoble kind (Germanic, girl)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- AbelBreath (Hebrew, boy)
- AlanMeaning uncertain; perhaps little rock, or from the Alans (Brythonic, boy)
- AlexisHelper, defender (Greek, boy)
- AliHigh, exalted (Arabic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- AlexanderDefender of men (Greek, boy)
- AlexandraDefender of men (Greek, girl)
- SandraDefender of men (Greek, girl)
- WilhelminaResolute protector (Germanic, girl)
- WilliamResolute protector (Germanic, boy)
- WilmaResolute protector (Germanic, girl)
- AleksandraDefender of the people (Greek, girl)
- AlexandreDefender of men (Greek, boy)
- AlexandrinaDefender of men (Greek, girl)
- AlistairDefender of men (Greek, boy)
Middle names for Alex
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
- ClementineMerciful, gentle (Latin, girl)
- CosimaOrder, decency (Greek, girl)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- JosephineHe will add (Hebrew, girl)
- LincolnLake colony (English, boy)
- QuentinFifth (Latin, boy)
- VerityTruth (Latin, girl)
- WayneWagon maker or driver (Old English, boy)
More names from Greek
- LucasMan from Lucania (Greek, boy)
- ChristianFollower of Christ (Greek, boy)
- ElenaForm of Helen, probably from Greek torch (Greek, girl)
- IrenePeace, tranquility (Greek, girl)
- IrisA rainbow (Greek, girl)
- LeonA lion (Greek, boy)
- SofiaWisdom, skill (Greek, girl)
- SophieWisdom, skill (Greek, girl)
- ZoeLife, living (Greek, girl)
- AnastasiaResurrection, rising again (Greek, girl)
Alex: common questions
What does the name Alex mean?
Alex comes from Greek and means "defender, protector". It also has another origin: "defender of men" from Greek.
Is Alex a boy or girl name?
Alex is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 71 girls and 1,515 boys in the US were named Alex, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Alex come from?
Alex comes from Greek and means "defender, protector". Today it is used in English, German, Russian and Spanish.
How popular is the name Alex?
Alex ranked #2,487 in the US in 2025, with 71 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Alex?
Forms of Alex with the same meaning and origin include Shura (Russian).
What middle names go with Alex?
Middle names that flow well with Alex include Clementine, Cosima, David, Josephine and Lincoln. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.