Alejo as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Alejo

What is the meaning of the name Alejo ?

The baby name Alejo is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /aˈlexo/ (Spanish); pronounced "ah-LEH-ho".

Alejo is Spanish in Origin.

Alejo is the Spanish form of a Greek name rooted in Alexios (Latin Alexius), from the verb alexein, “to defend” or “ward off.” The meaning is commonly rendered “defender” or “protector.” It entered Iberian use through medieval Christian veneration of Saint Alexius and took hold across Spain and the Americas, experiencing modest modern revival. In some regions, Alejo also serves as a familiar short form of Alejandro, though it stands independently.

International variants include Alexios (Greek), Alexius (Latin), Aleixo (Portuguese), Aleix (Catalan), Alessio (Italian), and Alexei/Aleksey (Russian). Related Spanish forms are Alejandro and the feminine Alexia; diminutives often include Ale. Notable bearers include the Cuban novelist Alejo Carpentier and Spanish public figure Alejo Vidal-Quadras. As a surname, Alejo appears especially in the Philippines and Mexico, reflecting Spanish influence, but as a given name it remains distinctly masculine.