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Alex as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Alex

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The baby name Alex is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced IPA: /ˈælɛks/; respelling: AL-eks.

Alex is Greek in Origin.

Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: IPA: /ˈælɛks/; respelling: AL-eks

What is the meaning of the name Alex ?

The baby name Alex is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced IPA: /ˈælɛks/; respelling: AL-eks.

Alex is Greek in Origin.

Alex is a unisex short form of Alexander or Alexandra, from the Greek name Alexandros meaning "defender of men" or "protector of humankind," built from alexein "to defend, help" and aner/andros "man, person." Used in medieval Europe as a familiar name for bearers of Alexander - honoring saints and figures like Alexander the Great - it emerged as an independent given name in English by the late 19th century and gained broad, gender-neutral popularity in the late 20th.

Related forms include Alexander, Alexandra, Alexandria, Alexia, and Alexis; common nicknames and cognates are Alec/Alek, Lex, Xander/Zander, and Sasha (East Slavic). International equivalents feature Alessandro (Italian), Alejandro (Spanish), Alexandre (French/Portuguese), and Aleksandr (Russian). Across cultures, Alex carries a straightforward, modern sound while retaining the enduring sense of a steadfast protector.

Alex has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Alex

Alexander I of Russia Royal · Born 1777 · Russian Empire Alexander I of Russia was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 1801 to 1825. He is most famous for his role in defeating Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars and for his efforts in the Congress of Vienna, which reshaped Europe after the wars. Born in 1777, he was a key figure in early 19th-century European politics. Alexander Dubček Politician · Born 1921 · Czechoslovakia Alexander Dubček was a key political figure in Czechoslovakia, best known for his role in the Prague Spring of 1968, where he attempted to introduce reforms to create 'socialism with a human face'. His efforts were halted by the Soviet invasion, but he remains a symbol of resistance and reform in Eastern Europe. Alexander Kerensky Politician · Born 1881 · Russian Empire Alexander Kerensky was a key political figure in the Russian Empire, best known for leading the provisional government in 1917 after the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. His leadership during this turbulent period was marked by efforts to continue Russia's involvement in World War I and to implement democratic reforms, but he was eventually overthrown by the Bolsheviks in the October Revolution.
Alexander Dugin Politician · Born 1962 · Russia Alexander Dugin is a Russian political philosopher known for his influence on Russian politics and his advocacy of Eurasianism. He is often associated with the book 'Foundations of Geopolitics', which has been influential in Russian military and foreign policy circles. Alex Salmond Politician · Born 1954 · United Kingdom Alex Salmond was best known as Scotland’s First Minister from 2007 to 2014 and as a leading figure in the Scottish nationalist movement. He also led the Scottish National Party twice, first from 1990 to 2000 and again from 2004 to 2014. Alexander Karelin Politician · Born 1967 · Russia Alexander Karelin is best known as a dominant Greco-Roman wrestler from Russia, often called 'The Russian Bear' for his incredible strength and technique. He won three Olympic gold medals and one silver, making him one of the most successful wrestlers in history. After retiring from wrestling, Karelin transitioned into politics in Russia.

Celebrity babies named Alex

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Alex Martin Whoopi Goldberg television actor ★★★★★
Alex A. Quinn Anthony Quinn film director ★★★★★
Alex Orbison Barbara Orbison record producer ★★★★★ Roy Orbison singer ★★★★★
Alex Ponti Carlo Ponti film director ★★★★★
Alex Caniggia Claudio Caniggia association footballer ★★★★★

Alex – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 — 836
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 — 874
Germany Boys 2025 #1 — 423
MO 0 #1 62 2,706
MO Boys 0 #4 675 5,842
RU Boys 0 #4 20,047 12,621
TM 0 #4 1 66
SV Boys 0 #5 28 352
ET 0 #6 1 246
GT 0 #6 1,375 5,948
GT Boys 0 #6 7,262 7,625
HK 0 #6 887 8,483
KH Girls 0 #6 1 148
CN Boys 0 #7 1,712 9,639
EC 0 #7 209 2,502
HN Boys 0 #7 65 749
TW Boys 0 #7 949 7,111
HK Boys 0 #8 6,671 12,905
KH Boys 0 #8 2 270
KR 0 #8 1 201
CN 0 #9 103 3,857
ET Boys 0 #9 21 678
HN 0 #9 15 704
SV 0 #9 3 283
SG Boys 0 #10 4,473 17,960
BO 0 #11 1,360 6,868
IL Boys 0 #11 6,047 10,983
BI 0 #12 1 425
HT 0 #12 1 399
SG 0 #12 491 11,010
BO Boys 0 #13 9,614 9,244
PE Boys 0 #13 26,509 14,506
EC Boys 0 #14 1,197 3,322
KR Girls 0 #15 1 572
PH Boys 0 #15 992 11,440
TW 0 #15 95 4,523
FJ Boys 0 #16 2 603
MV 0 #16 4 644
MY 0 #16 686 12,352
MY Boys 0 #16 12,117 25,439
MD 0 #17 18 434
PS Boys 0 #17 3,852 10,655
BW 0 #18 2 960
CM 0 #18 38 2,592
MD Boys 0 #18 144 756
SV Girls 0 #18 1 458
MT 0 #19 25 1,767
EE Boys 0 #20 189 2,087
KR Boys 0 #20 8 897
KZ Boys 0 #20 1,534 6,578
PH 0 #20 82 5,607
LU Boys 0 #21 501 4,970
BN Boys 0 #22 173 6,332
MT Boys 0 #22 313 4,064
NA 0 #22 12 2,537
RU 0 #22 532 3,641
HT Girls 0 #23 1 950
Spain Boys 0 #24 31,884 5,610
HT Boys 0 #24 11 903
BN 0 #25 8 2,297
PA Boys 0 #25 4,148 9,305
CO Boys 0 #26 43,969 15,656
CR Boys 0 #26 3,712 10,188
JM Boys 0 #26 721 6,876
ID 0 #27 13 2,238
PE 0 #27 620 6,350
TM Boys 0 #27 10 614
BW Boys 0 #28 178 4,685
PS 0 #28 316 5,692
CM Boys 0 #29 2,634 12,054
EE 0 #29 9 1,051
GH Boys 0 #31 1,850 8,138
JM 0 #31 60 3,714
MX Boys 0 #31 37,965 16,355
QA 0 #31 77 7,011
NL Boys 2014 #33 64 79
CY Boys 0 #33 164 3,473
GE Boys 0 #33 110 2,055
MV Girls 0 #33 3 2,021
JP 0 #34 45 4,057
BR Boys 0 #35 16,680 12,213
DJ Boys 0 #35 2 657
PR Boys 0 #35 327 2,508
GE 0 #36 9 997
GR Boys 0 #37 708 6,912
Germany Boys 0 #38 13,787 5,697
GR 0 #38 146 3,911
HN Girls 0 #38 1 884
LU 0 #38 29 2,830
IL 0 #39 509 6,291
MV Boys 0 #39 39 3,375
PA 0 #39 98 3,797
CR 0 #40 149 5,526
CY 0 #40 20 1,632
NA Boys 0 #41 323 6,830
PR 0 #41 15 1,497
BI Boys 0 #42 3 917
CL Boys 0 #42 14,213 13,390
JP Boys 0 #42 424 7,909
New Zealand Boys 2010 #43 105 99
Austria Boys 0 #43 2,921 2,180
GH 0 #43 322 5,396
BG Boys 0 #45 472 3,850
IT Boys 2003 #46 1,116 48
Spain 0 #47 1,569 2,326
ID Boys 0 #47 96 4,130
MX 0 #47 1,122 8,339
BG 0 #49 32 1,799
HU Boys 0 #49 432 3,954
Germany 0 #50 1,009 2,542
KZ 0 #50 42 1,452
AE 0 #52 140 10,220
AO 0 #53 24 2,729
ZA Boys 0 #54 8,289 25,619
IT Boys 0 #58 58,721 10,046
BR 0 #60 562 5,969
NL Boys 0 #60 8,269 5,873
AL 0 #61 15 2,372
Iceland Boys 0 #61 13 131
IN 0 #63 9 2,963
SI 0 #64 16 1,612
PT Boys 0 #67 1,804 7,951
AF 0 #68 9 1,883
MU Boys 0 #69 540 8,477
KW 0 #70 47 5,216
LT Boys 0 #71 121 2,166
Austria 0 #73 209 850
CZ Boys 0 #73 853 6,530
OM 0 #75 42 6,215
CO 0 #78 1,508 7,768
DK Boys 0 #80 669 7,401
LT 0 #81 8 949
MD Girls 0 #81 10 865
NG Boys 0 #81 6,726 16,906
AO Boys 0 #82 225 5,568
NG 0 #82 217 5,926
NL 0 #82 478 2,481
Switzerland Boys 2024 #83 55 1,769
BD 0 #83 175 5,992
RS 0 #83 2 923
CL 0 #87 784 6,867
AF Girls 0 #92 3 2,402
BN Girls 0 #94 13 5,459
HU 0 #95 20 1,675
AR Boys 0 #96 2,115 7,628
UY Boys 0 #96 1,752 5,922
SD 0 #98 5 2,130
GE Girls 0 #103 6 1,564
MU 0 #106 31 3,613
PL Boys 0 #106 814 6,459
CY Girls 0 #107 15 3,755
SI Boys 0 #109 107 3,402
RS Boys 0 #112 45 2,277
ZA 0 #112 424 14,421
Belgium Boys 2024 #113 76 401
Finland Boys 0 #113 852 2,041
RU Girls 0 #115 1,157 11,913
IT 0 #116 2,753 4,183
Finland Boys 2026 #117 4,620 3,552
Norway Boys 2025 #120 15 444
AZ Boys 0 #121 10 1,400
QA Boys 0 #121 1,176 18,093
UY 0 #122 56 2,477
Sweden Boys 2022 #124 59 1,509
IQ 0 #125 9 3,533
JO 0 #126 12 2,158
RS Girls 0 #126 10 1,651
DK 0 #129 82 5,198
CZ 0 #132 60 3,154
MT Girls 0 #137 15 3,773
EE Girls 0 #139 4 1,888
AL Boys 0 #144 179 5,122
BW Girls 0 #147 5 4,216
BG Girls 0 #148 77 3,559
LU Girls 0 #149 37 4,850
SA 0 #149 153 10,560
PR Girls 0 #151 11 3,171
PT 0 #153 106 4,161
HR Boys 0 #156 132 3,997
SD Boys 0 #156 452 10,523
AR 0 #157 30 2,915
BD Boys 0 #157 875 10,045
Canada Boys 2024 #159 160 2,588
HR 0 #161 19 2,081
IR 0 #162 72 4,221
IR Boys 0 #162 1,157 10,162
SI Girls 0 #163 12 2,769
PL 0 #164 51 2,600
EC Girls 0 #170 70 3,650
LB 0 #170 930 13,263
PH Girls 0 #176 243 13,098
BH 0 #179 503 17,937
France Boys 2021 #181 272 2,865
Sweden Girls 2021 #182 2 1,666
LT Girls 0 #182 13 1,904
KW Boys 0 #185 1,027 18,755
United States Boys 2024 #195 1,722 7,044
GR Girls 0 #195 48 6,293
AE Boys 0 #198 2,280 22,615
CZ Girls 0 #198 167 5,378
Austria Girls 0 #199 302 1,885
NA Girls 0 #201 24 7,146
AL Girls 0 #210 13 4,141
MO Girls 0 #210 42 7,056
Germany Girls 0 #211 1,587 4,949
AO Girls 0 #212 6 4,575
AF Boys 0 #216 55 3,535
PL Girls 0 #217 170 5,096
HU Girls 0 #220 6 3,308
JM Girls 0 #225 35 7,507
KZ Girls 0 #225 102 5,862
JP Girls 0 #226 20 6,592
QA Girls 0 #227 90 15,378
Finland 0 #233 76 830
OM Boys 0 #242 1,116 17,948
YE 0 #255 131 8,639
TW Girls 0 #261 16 8,139
HR Girls 0 #265 25 3,687
CN Girls 0 #266 84 8,829
EG Boys 0 #267 1,432 15,035
Canada Girls 2024 #276 10 2,795
JO Boys 0 #278 101 7,057
DK Girls 0 #286 31 7,429
GH Girls 0 #289 36 6,973
TN 0 #289 1,249 13,765
SA Boys 0 #292 4,730 28,008
MX Girls 0 #295 2,884 17,781
LY 0 #302 260 12,703
MU Girls 0 #302 50 8,539
SD Girls 0 #310 36 7,678
BD Girls 0 #311 76 8,413
OM Girls 0 #312 85 15,987
IQ Boys 0 #313 483 13,071
IN Boys 0 #316 1,184 16,750
NG Girls 0 #321 752 15,093
JO Girls 0 #333 7 7,570
EG 0 #343 58 6,387
AE Girls 0 #345 212 20,968
PT Girls 0 #345 111 7,952
KW Girls 0 #350 167 19,177
MA 0 #353 1,890 20,986
PS Girls 0 #356 176 10,981
IR Girls 0 #362 174 8,334
Finland Girls 0 #365 27 1,368
GT Girls 0 #366 145 7,500
PA Girls 0 #370 114 9,861
IL Girls 0 #379 265 11,648
CM Girls 0 #389 155 11,671
DZ 0 #394 1,487 20,130
France Girls 2021 #403 3 3,185
CR Girls 0 #403 131 11,342
Spain Girls 0 #407 882 5,561
UY Girls 0 #431 80 6,731
IQ Girls 0 #432 73 11,303
SG Girls 0 #434 154 18,916
HK Girls 0 #446 172 16,104
IT Girls 0 #457 2,189 9,415
BO Girls 0 #472 142 9,488
AR Girls 0 #475 126 8,289
SY 0 #491 259 11,684
SA Girls 0 #530 435 25,931
CO Girls 0 #531 805 16,140
IN Girls 0 #564 68 13,121
ZA Girls 0 #591 720 25,928
TR 0 #597 1,319 19,440
CL Girls 0 #605 253 14,098
Finland Girls 2026 #629 111 3,895
PE Girls 0 #632 348 14,861
EG Girls 0 #695 275 14,742
MY Girls 0 #718 282 24,821
NL Girls 0 #740 217 5,933
BR Girls 0 #748 197 12,708
United States Girls 2024 #830 87 8,487

Alex is popular in 103 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Norway
NL
Ireland
Scotland, United Kingdom

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

People also ask about Alex

Alex is a unisex name, given to both boys and girls.
Alex is a 2 syllable name, pronounced IPA: /ˈælɛks/; respelling: AL-eks.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Alexander, Alexandra, Alexis, Alec, Al and Lex.
Across languages, Alex has these equivalents: Alejandro (Spanish), Alexandre (French/Portuguese), Alessandro (Italian), Aleksandr / Aleksander (Russian/Polish/Slavic), Alexandru (Romanian), and 6 more.
Yes, very popular — Alex ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 15 countries.
Alex ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Yes — 39 notable people named Alex are in our database, including Alexander I of Russia (Royal), Alexander Dubček (Politician), Alexander Kerensky (Politician).
Yes — at least 5 celebrity couples have chosen Alex for their child, including Whoopi Goldberg.