Fun Facts About the Name Lex
- More than 4 thousand babies named Lex: U.S. records list 4,009 babies given the name Lex from 1880 through 2025. Even 15 girls received the name Lex - about 1 girl for every 266 boys.
What Does the Name Lex Mean?
Lex is most often a short form of Alexander, and also of the related Alexandra and Alexis. Those names come from the Greek Alexandros, formed from alexein, "to defend" or "to ward off," and anēr (genitive andros), "man." The customary meaning is "defender of men" or "protector of men."
As a clipped form, Lex carries the meaning of the longer name rather than adding one of its own. When it is used as a given name in its own right, in English or in Dutch, it keeps that same sense.
The Latin noun lex, meaning "law," is spelled the same way but is a separate word. It is not the source of the given name, despite the identical form.
Lex Name History & Origins
Lex is a clipped name: a longer name shortened to its first syllable. In English it has served as a familiar form of Alexander, and also of Alexandra and Alexis. The same shortening is common in Dutch, where Lex is widely used as a masculine given name rather than only as a nickname.
Because it is short and simple to spell, Lex has also been recorded as a legal given name in its own right, not just as a nickname, in the Netherlands and in English-speaking countries. Dutch usage as a stand-alone name is well established.
In modern popular culture the name is attached to the Superman antagonist Lex Luthor, who first appeared in 1940, and to other fictional characters. Those are twentieth-century literary uses; they do not explain where the name came from, which is the shortening of Alexander and its cognates.
How Popular is the Name Lex?
Lex recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2012. Its best rank was #913 in 1956.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | #16,572 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #16,504 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #17,753 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,322 | 60 | 0.0035% |
| 2024 | #2,216 | 65 | 0.0038% |
| 2023 | #1,812 | 89 | 0.0052% |
| 2022 | #1,898 | 83 | 0.0048% |
| 2021 | #1,742 | 93 | 0.0053% |
| 2020 | #1,807 | 83 | 0.0048% |
| 2019 | #1,748 | 90 | 0.0050% |
| 2018 | #1,849 | 82 | 0.0045% |
| 2017 | #1,720 | 91 | 0.0049% |
| 2016 | #1,933 | 76 | 0.0040% |
| 2015 | #2,081 | 68 | 0.0035% |
| 2014 | #2,265 | 59 | 0.0031% |
| 2013 | #2,268 | 57 | 0.0030% |
| 2012 | #1,649 | 94 | 0.0050% |
| 2011 | #1,736 | 85 | 0.0045% |
| 2010 | #1,863 | 78 | 0.0041% |
| 2009 | #1,794 | 84 | 0.0042% |
| 2008 | #1,749 | 87 | 0.0043% |
| 2007 | #1,654 | 93 | 0.0045% |
| 2006 | #1,613 | 90 | 0.0044% |
| 2005 | #1,666 | 81 | 0.0041% |
| 2004 | #1,643 | 79 | 0.0040% |
| 2003 | #1,524 | 85 | 0.0043% |
| 2002 | #1,907 | 59 | 0.0030% |
| 2001 | #3,471 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2000 | #2,962 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1999 | #3,782 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1998 | #2,985 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1997 | #2,949 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1996 | #3,356 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1995 | #3,640 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1994 | #2,998 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1993 | #2,553 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1992 | #2,787 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1991 | #2,957 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1990 | #2,669 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1989 | #2,663 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1988 | #2,409 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1987 | #2,685 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1986 | #3,217 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1985 | #3,161 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1984 | #3,206 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1983 | #3,775 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #3,216 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1981 | #3,139 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #3,536 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1979 | #3,279 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1978 | #3,011 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1977 | #2,857 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1976 | #2,904 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1975 | #2,843 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1974 | #2,416 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1973 | #2,283 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1972 | #3,084 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1971 | #2,025 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1970 | #1,773 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1969 | #1,953 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1968 | #1,935 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1967 | #1,590 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1966 | #1,336 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1965 | #1,542 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1964 | #1,300 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 1963 | #1,417 | 31 | 0.0015% |
| 1962 | #1,183 | 44 | 0.0021% |
| 1961 | #1,191 | 45 | 0.0021% |
| 1960 | #1,261 | 39 | 0.0018% |
| 1959 | #1,148 | 46 | 0.0022% |
| 1958 | #1,121 | 47 | 0.0022% |
| 1957 | #1,079 | 50 | 0.0023% |
| 1956 | #913 | 67 | 0.0032% |
| 1955 | #947 | 63 | 0.0031% |
| 1954 | #969 | 59 | 0.0029% |
| 1953 | #944 | 58 | 0.0029% |
| 1952 | #1,142 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 1951 | #938 | 56 | 0.0030% |
| 1950 | #1,114 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 1949 | #1,058 | 45 | 0.0025% |
| 1948 | #1,541 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1947 | #1,826 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1946 | #2,625 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1945 | #2,077 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1944 | #1,791 | 16 | 0.0012% |
| 1943 | #2,350 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1942 | #2,836 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1941 | #2,786 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #2,139 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1939 | #1,687 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1938 | #1,943 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1937 | #1,963 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1936 | #1,849 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1935 | #1,473 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1934 | #1,822 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1933 | #1,570 | 20 | 0.0020% |
| 1932 | #1,890 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1931 | #1,971 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1930 | #2,708 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1929 | #2,534 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1928 | #2,973 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1927 | #1,676 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1926 | #1,688 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1925 | #2,529 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1924 | #1,607 | 24 | 0.0021% |
| 1923 | #2,286 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1922 | #1,733 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1921 | #2,571 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1920 | #2,009 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1919 | #1,673 | 21 | 0.0021% |
| 1918 | #2,123 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1917 | #2,364 | 12 | 0.0013% |
| 1916 | #2,845 | 9 | 0.0010% |
| 1915 | #2,549 | 10 | 0.0012% |
| 1914 | #2,053 | 11 | 0.0017% |
| 1913 | #1,888 | 10 | 0.0020% |
| 1912 | #1,979 | 8 | 0.0019% |
| 1911 | #1,090 | 11 | 0.0049% |
| 1909 | #1,222 | 7 | 0.0043% |
| 1908 | #1,514 | 5 | 0.0032% |
| 1898 | #1,071 | 6 | 0.0049% |
| 1894 | #1,027 | 6 | 0.0052% |
| 1892 | #1,175 | 5 | 0.0041% |
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.
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How the Name Lex Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You always bring to completion anything you start. You are generous but like to see returns from your giving. You have an executive ability, you are a leader. You are moral, balanced, honest and intellectual, and you may attain spirituality. You are wise and practical with an appreciation of beauty. You always think before you act. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Lex's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Lex's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.