What Does the Name Alex Mean?
Alex is a unisex name of Greek origin meaning “defender of the people.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Alex |
|---|---|
| Gender | unisex |
| Origin | Greek |
| Meaning | defender of the people |
| Variants | Alexander, Alexandra, Alexis, Lex |
| Popularity | Very common worldwide as both a nickname and a given name for males and females; consistently used in the US. |
The meaning and origin of Alex
The name Alex means “defender of the people” and has Greek origins. A short form of Alexander or Alexandra, from the Greek Alexandros, combining alexein ('to defend') and aner ('man'). It is widely used as a standalone given name for both sexes.
Variants and related names
Alex is related to several other names you may recognize: Alexander, Alexandra, Alexis, Lex. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Alex?
Very common worldwide as both a nickname and a given name for males and females; consistently used in the US.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Alex below.
Generate a fake Alex profile
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Alex mean?+
The name Alex means “defender of the people” and is of Greek origin.
What is the origin of the name Alex?+
Alex originates from Greek.
Is Alex a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Alex has trended in the US over time.
Alex by gender
More unisex names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press