Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Alex
BoyGreek, English· “defender of men”
- Meaning
- defender of men
- Origin
- Greek, English
- Pronunciation
- AL-iks
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #232
- US babies 2025
- 1,515
- Best rank
- #47 (1995)
- Peak year
- 1993
Meaning and origin of Alex
Alex is a Greek and English name that means “defender of men”.
Alex is a short form of Alexander, from the Greek Alexandros, built from alexein, to defend, and aner, man. It is also used as a short form of Alexandra, Alexis and related names, so it works well for any gender. Alexander the Great spread the full name across the ancient world, and it has been used in almost every European language since. As a standalone name Alex is friendly, modern and practical, easy to say in many languages. Some families choose the full Alexander for formality and use Alex every day.
Popularity over time
Alex has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #47 in 1995, and the most babies received it in 1993, when 7,639 were named Alex. In 2025, 1,515 babies were named Alex, and it ranked #232 nationally. That is 51% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #142 in 1920, #244 in 1950, #156 in 1980, #62 in 2000, #93 in 2010, and #232 in 2025. Of the 286,169 US boys named Alex since records began, 25% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 63,781 babies. Since 2010, 43,759 more have been named Alex.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Mitchell, Dillon, Francisco, Cody, and Alexander.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Alex ranked highest in Rhode Island, Florida, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | #141 | 8 |
| Florida | #142 | 153 |
| California | #153 | 252 |
| District of Columbia | #168 | 5 |
| New Mexico | #194 | 10 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 96% of US babies named Alex over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Alex is usually pronounced AL-iks, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with A and ends in “-ex”.
Middle names for Alex
A few middle names that flow with Alex: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Alex
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Lists that include Alex
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Alex mean?
Alex is a Greek and English name that means “defender of men”.
What is the origin of the name Alex?
Alex has Greek and English roots. Alex is a short form of Alexander, from the Greek Alexandros, built from alexein, to defend, and aner, man.
Is Alex a popular name?
Yes. Alex ranked #232 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Alex a boy or girl name?
Alex is mainly a boy's name. About 96% of US babies named Alex over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Alex?
Alex is usually pronounced AL-iks. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings