Fun Facts About the Name Alexei
- More than 1 thousand babies named Alexei: U.S. records list 1,486 babies given the name Alexei from 1880 through 2025. Even 117 girls received the name Alexei - about 1 girl for every 12 boys.
What Does the Name Alexei Mean?
Alexei is the Russian form of the Greek name Alexios (Ἀλέξιος), which is built on the Greek verb alexein (ἀλέξειν), meaning "to ward off, defend, or help." The name's basic sense is "defender" or "helper." The related Greek noun alexis means "defense" or "aid."
Because Alexei is a Russian adaptation of an existing Greek name rather than a separate coinage, it carries the same core meaning as Alexios. The shared root also appears in the name Alexander, which joins alexein with anēr ("man"), but Alexei descends from Alexios, not from Alexander. Later Christian usage sometimes expanded the sense to "defender of the faith" or "defender of mankind"; those are customary interpretations rather than the literal etymology.
Alexei Name History & Origins
Alexios was a common name in the Greek-speaking Byzantine world and was borne by several emperors, beginning with Alexios I Komnenos, who ruled from 1081 to 1118. Along with Christianity received from the Greek church, the name passed into the Slavic languages, where Russian rendered it as Alexei (Алексей).
In the Russian Orthodox tradition the name is linked to Saint Alexius, a Roman figure whose legend was widely known in the Orthodox world, and to Alexius, Metropolitan of Moscow in the fourteenth century. Among Russian rulers, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich reigned from 1645 to 1676 and was the father of Peter the Great.
The name's Russian diminutives include Alyosha and Lyosha. In Russian literature it belongs to Alexei Karenin and Alexei Vronsky in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina and to Alexei Fyodorovich Karamazov in Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov - literary uses of a name that was already long established.
How Popular is the Name Alexei?
Alexei has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2021. Its best rank was #2,087 in 2000.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | #13,680 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #15,385 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #14,584 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #16,898 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #13,521 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #17,644 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #15,594 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #11,671 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #15,884 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #11,158 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #15,451 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #13,226 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #11,434 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1998 | #7,555 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1997 | #9,056 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1996 | #8,167 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #10,628 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,245 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 2024 | #2,744 | 47 | 0.0027% |
| 2023 | #3,416 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 2022 | #2,829 | 45 | 0.0026% |
| 2021 | #2,552 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 2020 | #2,887 | 41 | 0.0024% |
| 2019 | #2,696 | 47 | 0.0026% |
| 2018 | #3,107 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 2017 | #3,126 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 2016 | #3,296 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 2015 | #2,968 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 2014 | #3,155 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 2013 | #3,341 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 2012 | #4,006 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2011 | #3,609 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2010 | #3,129 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 2009 | #3,643 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2008 | #2,950 | 40 | 0.0020% |
| 2007 | #3,797 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 2006 | #2,934 | 38 | 0.0018% |
| 2005 | #2,496 | 45 | 0.0023% |
| 2004 | #2,953 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 2003 | #2,783 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 2002 | #2,755 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 2001 | #2,151 | 48 | 0.0025% |
| 2000 | #2,087 | 48 | 0.0024% |
| 1999 | #3,033 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1998 | #2,452 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 1997 | #2,614 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 1996 | #3,108 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1995 | #3,433 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1994 | #2,851 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1993 | #3,503 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1992 | #3,460 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1991 | #8,261 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1990 | #8,144 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1989 | #5,637 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #4,168 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #4,978 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #4,862 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #4,222 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1983 | #4,510 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #3,288 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1980 | #4,147 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #4,421 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #3,402 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #3,613 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1976 | #5,608 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #2,906 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #4,200 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #3,702 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #5,000 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #4,927 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #2,891 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #2,313 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1967 | #3,566 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #4,075 | 5 | 0.0002% |
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.
Explore More Lists with Name Alexei
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with A
How the Name Alexei Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Alexei's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Alexei's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.