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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Defender/protector (from either Alexander or Alexius)
- Origin
- Greek
- Gender
- Neutral
- Pronunciation
- AL-ex
Alex is a Greek name meaning defender or protector, drawn from either Alexander or Alexius, and it works equally well for any gender. Pronounced AL-ex, it has a vintage feel — short, familiar, and steady rather than trendy. If you're drawn to names with old roots but modern ease, Alex fits that space.
Meaning & Origin of Alex
Meaning: Defender/protector (from either alexander or alexius).
Origin: Greek.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Alex
AL-exIPA /ˈælɪks/
Popularity of Alex
Alex peaked at #47 in 1995, when 7,425 babies were given the name, and has since settled to #205 in 2024 with 1,722 babies — still in use, just far from its mid-90s high.
Names Like Alex
Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.
FAQ
What does the name Alex mean?
Defender/protector (from either alexander or alexius). (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Alex?
Alex is pronounced AL-ex (IPA: /ˈælɪks/).
Is Alex a popular name right now?
Alex peaked at #47 in 1995 and is ranked #205 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Alex Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Alex, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Alex? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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