Alex

Primarily a boy's name · 97% boys

Meaning

Alex is a unisex name, employed either as a hypocoristic or a standalone given name, derived from the Greek element ἀλέξειν, meaning "to defend" or "to protect." Universally recognized as a diminutive for Alexander and Alexandra, Alex has, in contemporary usage, established itself as an independent given name for both males and females.

From Wikipedia

Alex first appears in the data in 1880 and has been recorded in 145 different years as a boy's name. Its single biggest year was 1993 with 7,641 babies (rank #52 that year). In 2024 it was given to 1,722 boys (rank #205). The name has been declining over the last five years.

Numerology of Alex

In Pythagorean numerology, every letter has a value from 1 to 9. Adding the letters of Alex yields these three numbers — a playful read on the name's character.

6Destiny numberThe carerNurturing, responsible, family at the centre.Sum of every letter. The overall character a name carries.
6Soul urgeThe carerNurturing, responsible, family at the centre.Sum of the vowels — what's said to drive the heart.
9PersonalityThe humanitarianIdealistic, compassionate, thinks in big-picture terms.Sum of the consonants — the outer impression.

294,382

Total babies (all years)

145

Years in the data

7,641

Peak in a single year

Popularity Over Time — Boys

Also a character in

In Grey's Anatomy: Alex Karev — peds surgeon with a rough past

Famous people named Alex

Alex Fergusonautobiographer · b. 1941
Alex Morgannovelist · b. 1989
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlainassociation football player · b. 1993
Alex Iwobiassociation football player · b. 1996
Alex Jonesmisinformation creator · b. 1974

Share your Alex story

Why did you choose this name — or what does it mean to you? Approved stories appear on this page.

More popular boys' names

Names ranked near Alex in 2024

Other boys' names starting with A

Year-by-Year Detail

Rank is among all boys' names registered that year.

Year	Babies	Rank
1880	147	#92
1881	114	#109
1882	172	#89
1883	120	#108
1884	148	#105
1885	159	#92
1886	161	#96
1887	136	#104
1888	167	#102
1889	127	#114
1890	147	#111
1891	133	#109
1892	163	#110
1893	133	#120
1894	152	#112
1895	143	#117
1896	165	#112
1897	130	#128
1898	149	#125
1899	133	#122
1900	192	#120
1901	138	#120
1902	154	#125
1903	138	#135
1904	169	#125
1905	166	#133
1906	176	#122
1907	186	#127
1908	199	#127
1909	227	#123
1910	256	#127
1911	268	#129
1912	482	#135
1913	604	#130
1914	789	#131
1915	1,008	#131
1916	1,094	#128
1917	1,081	#132
1918	1,207	#131
1919	1,082	#137
1920	1,069	#142
1921	1,022	#149
1922	1,003	#155
1923	940	#161
1924	978	#162
1925	903	#165
1926	805	#179
1927	888	#169
1928	799	#179
1929	775	#180
1930	760	#180
1931	727	#182
1932	683	#192
1933	606	#197
1934	623	#198
1935	581	#207
1936	564	#210
1937	564	#211
1938	601	#206
1939	597	#204
1940	620	#208
1941	641	#210
1942	681	#215
1943	660	#222
1944	620	#221
1945	639	#217
1946	706	#225
1947	794	#228
1948	764	#234
1949	730	#242
1950	749	#244
1951	690	#254
1952	700	#258
1953	716	#260
1954	743	#259
1955	712	#263
1956	810	#253
1957	896	#253
1958	1,020	#245
1959	1,164	#234
1960	1,229	#226
1961	1,217	#228
1962	1,267	#217
1963	1,304	#215
1964	1,241	#218
1965	1,245	#200
1966	1,024	#218
1967	1,129	#205
1968	1,164	#200
1969	1,211	#207
1970	1,403	#191
1971	1,363	#188
1972	1,184	#196
1973	1,246	#184
1974	1,386	#171
1975	1,328	#175
1976	1,360	#172
1977	1,610	#153
1978	1,468	#164
1979	1,656	#156
1980	1,680	#156
1981	1,873	#148
1982	1,965	#143
1983	2,155	#123
1984	3,026	#93
1985	3,907	#80
1986	5,112	#64
1987	6,043	#60
1988	6,408	#58
1989	6,542	#60
1990	6,950	#59
1991	6,674	#63
1992	7,351	#54
1993	7,641	#52
1994	7,240	#50
1995	7,425	#47
1996	6,915	#53
1997	6,855	#55
1998	6,954	#55
1999	6,827	#58
2000	6,748	#62
2001	6,614	#62
2002	6,806	#63
2003	6,794	#62
2004	6,811	#63
2005	6,488	#71
2006	6,670	#67
2007	6,275	#72
2008	5,400	#84
2009	5,173	#83
2010	4,439	#93
2011	4,041	#95
2012	3,869	#98
2013	3,558	#110
2014	3,190	#128
2015	3,112	#134
2016	2,854	#146
2017	2,603	#151
2018	2,525	#153
2019	2,400	#165
2020	2,122	#183
2021	1,965	#192
2022	2,004	#190
2023	1,814	#203
2024	1,722	#205