Fun Facts About the Name Alex
- A favorite of earlier generations: Alex appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 4 separate runs, totaling 33 years. Its last run lasted 29 consecutive years, from 1984 through 2012.
- More than 295 thousand babies named Alex: U.S. records list 295,968 babies given the name Alex from 1880 through 2025. Even 9,820 girls received the name Alex - about 1 girl for every 29 boys.
What Does the Name Alex Mean?
Alex is a short form of Alexander and of its feminine relatives Alexandra and Alexis, and it carries their meaning rather than one of its own. The parent name is the Greek Alexandros, usually explained as a compound of alexein, "to ward off, defend," and anēr (genitive andros), "man." The literal sense is "defending men" or "warder-off of men," customarily rendered as "defender of men." The second element is not in doubt; the first is sometimes connected instead with the related noun alexis, "defense, help," which yields much the same idea. The familiar English phrase is a customary translation of the compound, not a rendering of a single Greek word.
Alex Name History & Origins
The Greek Alexandros is an old name rather than a later coinage. It is recorded in Mycenaean Greek documents written in Linear B, where the feminine form appears as a-re-ka-sa-da-ra, and it occurs in Homer, where the Trojan prince Paris also bears the name Alexandros. The name became widely known through Alexander III of Macedon (356 - 323 BCE), whose campaigns carried Greek speech and Greek personal names through the eastern Mediterranean and into western Asia. Passing through Latin Alexander, it entered most European languages, giving French Alexandre, Spanish Alejandro, Italian Alessandro, and Russian Aleksandr.
Each language formed its own shortened forms, and Alex is the English one. It is also used in English as a given name in its own right rather than only as a nickname, for boys and, following Alexandra and Alexis, for girls. Comparable clipped forms exist elsewhere, such as French Alex, while other languages prefer different shortenings, among them Russian Sasha and Italian Sandro.
How Popular is the Name Alex?
Alex has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 33 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1984 to 2012.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,487 | 71 | 0.0044% |
| 2024 | #2,166 | 87 | 0.0054% |
| 2023 | #1,982 | 99 | 0.0062% |
| 2022 | #1,478 | 148 | 0.0090% |
| 2021 | #1,612 | 130 | 0.0079% |
| 2020 | #1,293 | 171 | 0.0106% |
| 2019 | #1,460 | 151 | 0.0090% |
| 2018 | #1,324 | 171 | 0.0101% |
| 2017 | #1,251 | 189 | 0.0110% |
| 2016 | #1,337 | 177 | 0.0100% |
| 2015 | #1,287 | 187 | 0.0105% |
| 2014 | #1,422 | 160 | 0.0090% |
| 2013 | #1,509 | 146 | 0.0083% |
| 2012 | #1,629 | 132 | 0.0075% |
| 2011 | #1,370 | 168 | 0.0096% |
| 2010 | #1,352 | 173 | 0.0097% |
| 2009 | #1,366 | 174 | 0.0095% |
| 2008 | #1,405 | 169 | 0.0089% |
| 2007 | #1,277 | 192 | 0.0100% |
| 2006 | #1,083 | 234 | 0.0123% |
| 2005 | #1,044 | 229 | 0.0124% |
| 2004 | #982 | 242 | 0.0132% |
| 2003 | #1,038 | 220 | 0.0120% |
| 2002 | #978 | 226 | 0.0126% |
| 2001 | #981 | 219 | 0.0122% |
| 2000 | #916 | 238 | 0.0131% |
| 1999 | #786 | 279 | 0.0157% |
| 1998 | #771 | 279 | 0.0158% |
| 1997 | #674 | 322 | 0.0185% |
| 1996 | #637 | 352 | 0.0201% |
| 1995 | #537 | 441 | 0.0251% |
| 1994 | #581 | 394 | 0.0221% |
| 1993 | #562 | 425 | 0.0235% |
| 1992 | #618 | 366 | 0.0198% |
| 1991 | #610 | 369 | 0.0197% |
| 1990 | #802 | 250 | 0.0132% |
| 1989 | #789 | 241 | 0.0131% |
| 1988 | #705 | 270 | 0.0152% |
| 1987 | #829 | 210 | 0.0121% |
| 1986 | #1,055 | 143 | 0.0083% |
| 1985 | #1,445 | 86 | 0.0050% |
| 1984 | #1,368 | 86 | 0.0051% |
| 1983 | #3,067 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1982 | #2,185 | 46 | 0.0027% |
| 1981 | #2,775 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 1980 | #2,941 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 1979 | #3,780 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1978 | #4,081 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1977 | #3,371 | 22 | 0.0014% |
| 1976 | #3,003 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1975 | #4,597 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1974 | #2,925 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1973 | #3,019 | 22 | 0.0015% |
| 1972 | #3,543 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1971 | #4,127 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1970 | #3,874 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1969 | #3,959 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1968 | #3,457 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1967 | #3,658 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1966 | #5,814 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #3,956 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #3,518 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1963 | #4,901 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #3,596 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1961 | #2,675 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1960 | #2,990 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1959 | #3,622 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1958 | #3,233 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1957 | #3,936 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1956 | #4,842 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #5,218 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #4,282 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #3,271 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #4,487 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #3,719 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1950 | #3,668 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #3,393 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #3,353 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1947 | #3,245 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1944 | #3,690 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1943 | #3,811 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1942 | #4,128 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #3,872 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1939 | #4,257 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1938 | #4,353 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #4,263 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1935 | #3,436 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1934 | #2,569 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1933 | #4,230 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1932 | #4,428 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1931 | #2,978 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1930 | #2,426 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1929 | #1,953 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1928 | #4,202 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1927 | #2,096 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1926 | #3,052 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1925 | #4,985 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1924 | #5,084 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1923 | #4,384 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #3,666 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1921 | #3,673 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1920 | #2,902 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1919 | #4,830 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1918 | #3,517 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1917 | #3,718 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1916 | #3,267 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1915 | #2,532 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #232 | 1,515 | 0.0887% |
| 2024 | #205 | 1,722 | 0.1004% |
| 2023 | #203 | 1,814 | 0.1062% |
| 2022 | #190 | 2,004 | 0.1149% |
| 2021 | #192 | 1,965 | 0.1124% |
| 2020 | #183 | 2,122 | 0.1230% |
| 2019 | #165 | 2,400 | 0.1338% |
| 2018 | #153 | 2,525 | 0.1391% |
| 2017 | #151 | 2,603 | 0.1407% |
| 2016 | #146 | 2,854 | 0.1504% |
| 2015 | #134 | 3,112 | 0.1624% |
| 2014 | #128 | 3,190 | 0.1661% |
| 2013 | #110 | 3,558 | 0.1881% |
| 2012 | #98 | 3,869 | 0.2040% |
| 2011 | #95 | 4,041 | 0.2128% |
| 2010 | #93 | 4,439 | 0.2314% |
| 2009 | #83 | 5,173 | 0.2608% |
| 2008 | #84 | 5,400 | 0.2647% |
| 2007 | #72 | 6,275 | 0.3024% |
| 2006 | #67 | 6,670 | 0.3246% |
| 2005 | #71 | 6,488 | 0.3249% |
| 2004 | #63 | 6,811 | 0.3432% |
| 2003 | #62 | 6,794 | 0.3440% |
| 2002 | #63 | 6,806 | 0.3506% |
| 2001 | #62 | 6,614 | 0.3404% |
| 2000 | #62 | 6,748 | 0.3436% |
| 1999 | #58 | 6,827 | 0.3556% |
| 1998 | #55 | 6,954 | 0.3638% |
| 1997 | #55 | 6,855 | 0.3636% |
| 1996 | #53 | 6,915 | 0.3651% |
| 1995 | #47 | 7,425 | 0.3900% |
| 1994 | #50 | 7,240 | 0.3748% |
| 1993 | #52 | 7,641 | 0.3896% |
| 1992 | #54 | 7,351 | 0.3680% |
| 1991 | #63 | 6,674 | 0.3303% |
| 1990 | #59 | 6,950 | 0.3384% |
| 1989 | #60 | 6,542 | 0.3270% |
| 1988 | #58 | 6,408 | 0.3348% |
| 1987 | #60 | 6,043 | 0.3237% |
| 1986 | #64 | 5,112 | 0.2776% |
| 1985 | #80 | 3,907 | 0.2114% |
| 1984 | #93 | 3,026 | 0.1677% |
| 1983 | #123 | 2,155 | 0.1202% |
| 1982 | #143 | 1,965 | 0.1083% |
| 1981 | #148 | 1,873 | 0.1046% |
| 1980 | #156 | 1,680 | 0.0942% |
| 1979 | #156 | 1,656 | 0.0962% |
| 1978 | #164 | 1,468 | 0.0894% |
| 1977 | #153 | 1,610 | 0.0980% |
| 1976 | #172 | 1,360 | 0.0867% |
| 1975 | #175 | 1,328 | 0.0850% |
| 1974 | #171 | 1,386 | 0.0881% |
| 1973 | #184 | 1,246 | 0.0799% |
| 1972 | #196 | 1,184 | 0.0730% |
| 1971 | #188 | 1,363 | 0.0771% |
| 1970 | #191 | 1,403 | 0.0755% |
| 1969 | #207 | 1,211 | 0.0677% |
| 1968 | #200 | 1,164 | 0.0670% |
| 1967 | #205 | 1,129 | 0.0647% |
| 1966 | #218 | 1,024 | 0.0574% |
| 1965 | #200 | 1,245 | 0.0669% |
| 1964 | #218 | 1,241 | 0.0623% |
| 1963 | #215 | 1,304 | 0.0642% |
| 1962 | #217 | 1,267 | 0.0612% |
| 1961 | #228 | 1,217 | 0.0573% |
| 1960 | #226 | 1,229 | 0.0576% |
| 1959 | #234 | 1,164 | 0.0545% |
| 1958 | #245 | 1,020 | 0.0481% |
| 1957 | #253 | 896 | 0.0415% |
| 1956 | #253 | 810 | 0.0383% |
| 1955 | #263 | 712 | 0.0346% |
| 1954 | #259 | 743 | 0.0364% |
| 1953 | #260 | 716 | 0.0363% |
| 1952 | #258 | 700 | 0.0360% |
| 1951 | #254 | 690 | 0.0366% |
| 1950 | #244 | 749 | 0.0418% |
| 1949 | #242 | 730 | 0.0412% |
| 1948 | #234 | 764 | 0.0435% |
| 1947 | #228 | 794 | 0.0434% |
| 1946 | #225 | 706 | 0.0435% |
| 1945 | #217 | 639 | 0.0475% |
| 1944 | #221 | 620 | 0.0455% |
| 1943 | #222 | 660 | 0.0462% |
| 1942 | #215 | 681 | 0.0493% |
| 1941 | #210 | 641 | 0.0522% |
| 1940 | #208 | 620 | 0.0535% |
| 1939 | #204 | 597 | 0.0539% |
| 1938 | #206 | 601 | 0.0542% |
| 1937 | #211 | 564 | 0.0529% |
| 1936 | #210 | 564 | 0.0544% |
| 1935 | #207 | 581 | 0.0558% |
| 1934 | #198 | 623 | 0.0603% |
| 1933 | #197 | 606 | 0.0611% |
| 1932 | #192 | 683 | 0.0654% |
| 1931 | #182 | 727 | 0.0699% |
| 1930 | #180 | 760 | 0.0693% |
| 1929 | #180 | 775 | 0.0721% |
| 1928 | #179 | 799 | 0.0721% |
| 1927 | #169 | 888 | 0.0788% |
| 1926 | #179 | 805 | 0.0725% |
| 1925 | #165 | 903 | 0.0809% |
| 1924 | #162 | 978 | 0.0863% |
| 1923 | #161 | 940 | 0.0858% |
| 1922 | #155 | 1,003 | 0.0922% |
| 1921 | #149 | 1,022 | 0.0928% |
| 1920 | #142 | 1,069 | 0.1004% |
| 1919 | #137 | 1,082 | 0.1104% |
| 1918 | #131 | 1,207 | 0.1191% |
| 1917 | #132 | 1,081 | 0.1168% |
| 1916 | #128 | 1,094 | 0.1229% |
| 1915 | #131 | 1,008 | 0.1188% |
| 1914 | #131 | 789 | 0.1205% |
| 1913 | #130 | 604 | 0.1178% |
| 1912 | #135 | 482 | 0.1121% |
| 1911 | #129 | 268 | 0.1186% |
| 1910 | #127 | 256 | 0.1318% |
| 1909 | #123 | 227 | 0.1384% |
| 1908 | #127 | 199 | 0.1289% |
| 1907 | #127 | 186 | 0.1267% |
| 1906 | #122 | 176 | 0.1322% |
| 1905 | #133 | 166 | 0.1255% |
| 1904 | #125 | 169 | 0.1319% |
| 1903 | #135 | 138 | 0.1157% |
| 1902 | #125 | 154 | 0.1256% |
| 1901 | #120 | 138 | 0.1296% |
| 1900 | #120 | 192 | 0.1276% |
| 1899 | #122 | 133 | 0.1252% |
| 1898 | #125 | 149 | 0.1214% |
| 1897 | #128 | 130 | 0.1153% |
| 1896 | #112 | 165 | 0.1380% |
| 1895 | #117 | 143 | 0.1218% |
| 1894 | #112 | 152 | 0.1313% |
| 1893 | #120 | 133 | 0.1184% |
| 1892 | #110 | 163 | 0.1336% |
| 1891 | #109 | 133 | 0.1314% |
| 1890 | #111 | 147 | 0.1324% |
| 1889 | #114 | 127 | 0.1148% |
| 1888 | #102 | 167 | 0.1382% |
| 1887 | #104 | 136 | 0.1341% |
| 1886 | #96 | 161 | 0.1453% |
| 1885 | #92 | 159 | 0.1475% |
| 1884 | #105 | 148 | 0.1293% |
| 1883 | #108 | 120 | 0.1147% |
| 1882 | #89 | 172 | 0.1513% |
| 1881 | #109 | 114 | 0.1132% |
| 1880 | #92 | 147 | 0.1330% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
