Alex Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Alex is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Alex?
Alex is spelled A-L-E-X. The name has 4 letters.
Alex at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Alex is a shortened form of Alexander or Alexandra, derived from Greek elements meaning “defender” and “people.”
- Origin
- Alex is commonly used as a short form of Alexander or Alexandra, names derived from the Greek name Alexandros.
- Pronunciation
- AL-eks · 2 syllables
Alex Popularity in 2025
Rank#2,485
Recorded Births71
Rank#232
Recorded Births1,515
- Girls usage fell 335 places to #2,485 and recorded 17 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 27 places to #232 and recorded 213 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 Alex Mean?
Alex is a shortened form of Alexander or Alexandra, derived from Greek elements meaning “defender” and “people.”
Origin: Alex is commonly used as a short form of Alexander or Alexandra, names derived from the Greek name Alexandros.
How Do You Pronounce Alex?
PronunciationAL-eks
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Alex?
- History
- The use of Alex as a given name became popular as an abbreviation or nickname for Alexander or Alexandra in various languages.
Alex Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 71 | #2,485 |
| 2025 | Boys | 1,515 | #232 |
| 2024 | Girls | 88 | #2,150 |
| 2024 | Boys | 1,728 | #205 |
| 2023 | Girls | 100 | #1,965 |
| 2023 | Boys | 1,814 | #203 |
| 2022 | Girls | 148 | #1,478 |
| 2022 | Boys | 2,006 | #189 |
| 2021 | Girls | 130 | #1,612 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,969 | #192 |
| 2020 | Girls | 171 | #1,294 |
| 2020 | Boys | 2,122 | #183 |
| 2019 | Girls | 151 | #1,460 |
| 2019 | Boys | 2,401 | #165 |
| 2018 | Girls | 171 | #1,325 |
| 2018 | Boys | 2,526 | #153 |
| 2017 | Girls | 189 | #1,251 |
| 2017 | Boys | 2,606 | #151 |
| 2016 | Girls | 177 | #1,338 |
| 2016 | Boys | 2,855 | #146 |
| 2015 | Girls | 187 | #1,287 |
| 2015 | Boys | 3,113 | #134 |
| 2014 | Girls | 160 | #1,422 |
| 2014 | Boys | 3,192 | #128 |
When Was Alex 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.
1993 · Boys
7,639 recorded births
National rank #52
1995 · Boys
7,424 recorded births
National rank #47
1992 · Boys
7,351 recorded births
National rank #54
1994 · Boys
7,240 recorded births
National rank #50
Where Alex 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 |
|---|---|---|
| RI | #140 | 8 |
| FL | #142 | 153 |
| CA | #153 | 252 |
| DC | #168 | 5 |
| NM | #193 | 10 |
| CT | #197 | 17 |
| NJ | #199 | 49 |
| TX | #207 | 190 |