Alec Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Alec is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Alec?
Alec is spelled A-L-E-C. The name has 4 letters.
Alec at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- A variant spelling of Alexander, derived from Greek meaning “defender of men.”
- Origin
- Alec is commonly considered a shortened form or variant of the name Alexander, which has Greek origins.
- Pronunciation
- AL-ek · 2 syllables
Alec Popularity in 2025
Rank#977
Recorded Births234
- Boys usage fell 97 places to #977 and recorded 40 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Alec Mean?
A variant spelling of Alexander, derived from Greek meaning “defender of men.”
Origin: Alec is commonly considered a shortened form or variant of the name Alexander, which has Greek origins.
How Do You Pronounce Alec?
PronunciationAL-ek
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Alec?
- History
- The use of Alec as a distinct given name is primarily as a familiar form of Alexander.
Alec Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2005 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 234 | #977 |
| 2024 | Boys | 274 | #880 |
| 2023 | Boys | 290 | #841 |
| 2022 | Boys | 346 | #745 |
| 2021 | Boys | 390 | #682 |
| 2020 | Boys | 470 | #588 |
| 2019 | Boys | 518 | #543 |
| 2018 | Boys | 521 | #539 |
| 2017 | Boys | 575 | #506 |
| 2016 | Girls | 6 | #14,331 |
| 2016 | Boys | 617 | #492 |
| 2015 | Boys | 665 | #456 |
| 2014 | Boys | 624 | #467 |
| 2013 | Boys | 626 | #453 |
| 2012 | Boys | 606 | #449 |
| 2011 | Boys | 659 | #421 |
| 2010 | Girls | 5 | #16,992 |
| 2010 | Boys | 669 | #417 |
| 2009 | Boys | 730 | #406 |
| 2008 | Girls | 6 | #15,405 |
| 2008 | Boys | 774 | #389 |
| 2007 | Boys | 872 | #363 |
| 2006 | Boys | 982 | #329 |
| 2005 | Girls | 7 | #13,010 |
When Was Alec Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1995 · Boys
3,420 recorded births
National rank #112
1998 · Boys
3,356 recorded births
National rank #112
1994 · Boys
3,322 recorded births
National rank #109
1996 · Boys
3,308 recorded births
National rank #117
Where Alec Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| OK | #504 | 8 |
| AZ | #634 | 10 |
| CA | #699 | 39 |
| TX | #749 | 36 |
| WI | #785 | 5 |
| FL | #846 | 17 |
| IL | #870 | 9 |
| VA | #875 | 7 |