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Alec as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Alec

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The baby name Alec is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈælɪk/ (AL-ik).

Alec is Greek, Scottish in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Greek, Scottish
Pronunciation: /ˈælɪk/ (AL-ik)

What is the meaning of the name Alec ?

The baby name Alec is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈælɪk/ (AL-ik).

Alec is Greek, Scottish in Origin.

Alec is the Scottish short form of Alexander, ultimately from the Greek Alexandros, built from alexein “to defend, help” and anēr/andros “man.” The meaning is “defender of men” or “protector.” Used in Scotland as a familiar pet name, Alec began appearing independently in English records by the 19th century and has since remained a compact, traditional choice across the Anglophone world.

Usage has been buoyed by bearers such as actor Sir Alec Guinness, British statesman Alec Douglas-Home, engineer Alec Issigonis, geneticist Alec Jeffreys, and American actor Alec Baldwin. Variant spellings include Alek and Aleck; related international forms derive from Alexander’s broader family - Alex, Lex, Xander, Sander, and the Scots Sandy, with cognates like Alistair/Alastair and Slavic Aleksandar/Aleksander. Though sometimes a nickname, Alec stands comfortably on its own while retaining Alexander’s protective, time-tested meaning.

Alec has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Alec

Alec Baldwin Actor · Born 1958 · United States Alec Baldwin is an American actor and producer best known for his film and TV work, especially 30 Rock, The Hunt for Red October, and Glengarry Glen Ross. Born on April 3, 1958, he has built a long career playing both comedic and dramatic roles. Alec Guinness Actor · Born 1914 · United Kingdom Alec Guinness was an English actor best known for classic films like The Bridge on the River Kwai, Kind Hearts and Coronets, and Star Wars, where he played Obi-Wan Kenobi. He was one of Britain’s most celebrated screen actors, appearing in many major 20th-century films, including several directed by David Lean. Alec Douglas-Home Politician · Born 1903 · United Kingdom Alec Douglas-Home was a British Conservative politician best known for serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1963 to 1964. Born Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home, he was known as Lord Dunglass and later the Earl of Home before giving up his peerage to sit in the House of Commons, making him the last prime minister to serve while a member of the House of Lords.
Alec McCowen Actor · Born 1925 · United Kingdom Alec McCowen was an English actor best known for his acclaimed stage and film work. He appeared in productions including The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, Gangs of New York, and Travels with My Aunt. Alec Utgoff Actor · Born 1986 · United Kingdom Alec Utgoff is a British actor best known for his role as Dr. Alexei in the popular Netflix series Stranger Things. Born in 1986, he has also appeared in films like The Tourist and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, showcasing his versatility across different genres. Alec Su Actor · Born 1973 · Taiwan Alec Su is a Taiwanese actor and singer, best known for his role in the popular television series 'My Fair Princess'. He gained fame as a member of the boy band Little Tigers Team in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Alec has also starred in films like 'The Message'.

Alec – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 — 836
BW 0 #19 1 960
BN 0 #32 1 2,297
MT 0 #42 2 1,767
LU 0 #65 2 2,830
JP 0 #77 1 4,057
MD Boys 0 #80 2 756
BG 0 #82 1 1,799
CN 0 #84 3 3,857
JM 0 #92 2 3,714
TW 0 #99 5 4,523
QA 0 #106 1 7,011
PH 0 #107 4 5,607
BW Boys 0 #113 37 4,685
HU 0 #115 1 1,675
Switzerland Boys 2024 #126 12 1,769
CY Boys 0 #131 1 3,473
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
BN Boys 0 #139 1 6,332
JO 0 #140 1 2,158
BW Girls 0 #151 1 4,216
RS Boys 0 #154 1 2,277
CR 0 #164 2 5,526
Belgium Boys 2024 #169 20 401
MT Boys 0 #172 8 4,064
HU Boys 0 #174 1 3,954
PR Boys 0 #175 4 2,508
Sweden Boys 2022 #178 5 1,509
AE 0 #187 1 10,220
RU 0 #190 5 3,641
AR 0 #193 1 2,915
DK 0 #205 2 5,198
SI Boys 0 #210 2 3,402
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
LU Boys 0 #217 4 4,970
TW Boys 0 #217 25 7,111
BG Boys 0 #218 3 3,850
IR 0 #231 1 4,221
MO Boys 0 #234 1 5,842
BD 0 #241 1 5,992
EC Boys 0 #245 2 3,322
NA Boys 0 #246 8 6,830
AO Boys 0 #249 1 5,568
HR Boys 0 #258 2 3,997
JM Boys 0 #258 15 6,876
Canada Boys 2024 #259 48 2,588
MO Girls 0 #263 1 7,056
GR Boys 0 #272 2 6,912
NG 0 #272 1 5,926
JM Girls 0 #278 1 7,507
SG 0 #280 3 11,010
CN Boys 0 #282 38 9,639
IL 0 #282 1 6,291
KZ Boys 0 #291 6 6,578
France Boys 2021 #292 98 2,865
JP Boys 0 #297 7 7,909
CZ Boys 0 #299 7 6,530
SA 0 #309 4 10,560
MY 0 #321 10 12,352
DK Boys 0 #325 8 7,401
PE 0 #325 5 6,350
HK 0 #336 13 8,483
PL Boys 0 #339 2 6,459
QA Girls 0 #341 3 15,378
PH Boys 0 #344 40 11,440
MU Boys 0 #346 12 8,477
BR 0 #359 2 5,969
GH Boys 0 #360 2 8,138
PL Girls 0 #364 1 5,096
PT Boys 0 #375 7 7,951
France Girls 2001 #387 3 2,681
Finland Boys 0 #395 33 2,041
UY Boys 0 #405 9 5,922
BD Girls 0 #406 1 8,413
BO 0 #408 1 6,868
ZA 0 #415 33 14,421
PH Girls 0 #425 5 13,098
MX 0 #439 7 8,339
CR Boys 0 #440 48 10,188
HK Boys 0 #450 78 12,905
AR Boys 0 #456 12 7,628
RU Boys 0 #466 40 12,621
SD Boys 0 #466 1 10,523
PA Boys 0 #467 15 9,305
Finland Boys 2026 #468 248 3,552
GT Boys 0 #492 8 7,625
CO 0 #506 5 7,768
RU Girls 0 #522 2 11,913
GT Girls 0 #541 1 7,500
PS Girls 0 #547 1 10,981
PS Boys 0 #554 8 10,655
KW Girls 0 #557 5 19,177
CM Girls 0 #560 1 11,671
IR Boys 0 #561 5 10,162
CM Boys 0 #571 5 12,054
CR Girls 0 #573 1 11,342
BO Boys 0 #582 11 9,244
BH 0 #583 5 17,937
AE Girls 0 #594 4 20,968
IL Boys 0 #597 11 10,983
BD Boys 0 #603 3 10,045
United States Boys 2024 #625 273 7,044
CL Boys 0 #631 35 13,390
SG Girls 0 #631 2 18,916
SG Boys 0 #631 67 17,960
LB 0 #638 21 13,263
HK Girls 0 #650 1 16,104
ZA Boys 0 #652 636 25,619
IQ Boys 0 #695 3 13,071
QA Boys 0 #698 10 18,093
IT 0 #699 16 4,183
BR Boys 0 #714 38 12,213
Finland Girls 2026 #734 5 3,895
NL Boys 0 #760 193 5,873
KW Boys 0 #803 4 18,755
PE Boys 0 #808 71 14,506
NG Girls 0 #824 3 15,093
Germany Boys 0 #855 98 5,697
Spain Boys 0 #858 73 5,610
TN 0 #862 4 13,765
CO Boys 0 #875 46 15,656
MX Boys 0 #877 106 16,355
OM Boys 0 #914 5 17,948
CL Girls 0 #915 1 14,098
EG Boys 0 #917 9 15,035
United States Girls 2016 #933 6 9,437
NG Boys 0 #937 15 16,906
BR Girls 0 #992 1 12,708
EG Girls 0 #1,004 6 14,742
IN Boys 0 #1,036 4 16,750
MY Boys 0 #1,037 75 25,439
AE Boys 0 #1,075 18 22,615
CO Girls 0 #1,150 3 16,140
MA 0 #1,192 8 20,986
TR 0 #1,200 12 19,440
DZ 0 #1,227 8 20,130
ZA Girls 0 #1,229 8 25,928
IT Boys 0 #1,253 219 10,046
MX Girls 0 #1,260 8 17,781
IT Girls 0 #1,432 15 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,594 21 28,008

Alec is popular in 79 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Scotland, United Kingdom
Ireland
Canada
Belgium

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Alec

Alec is predominantly a boy's name.
Alec is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈælɪk/ (AL-ik).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Alek, Aleck, Alick and Alyc.
Across languages, Alec has these equivalents: Alex (English), Alek / Aleks (Slavic), Alik (Armenian/Hebrew diminutive), Alejo (Spanish diminutive of Alejandro), Alistair / Alastair (Scottish forms of Alexander).
Yes, very popular — Alec ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 9 countries.
Alec ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Alec's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 6 notable people named Alec are in our database, including Alec Baldwin (Actor), Alec Guinness (Actor), Alec Douglas-Home (Politician).