Baby Name Popularity Profile

Alex

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Alex.

✦ Defender of mankind 🌍 Greek traditional mythological
National Rank (2025) #232
All-Time Peak Rank #47 Achieved 1995
Total U.S. Births 286,169 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 95.6% Boy / 4.4% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1990s 7,639 births in 1993
πŸ’‘ The Alex Vibe: Considered a Declining Classic. A previously dominant name currently experiencing a prolonged generational cooling period.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Defender of mankind
Language Origin Greek
Origin Type single
Short form of Alexander, derived from Greek Alexandros meaning 'defender of mankind'.
Common Nicknames
Al Lex
Pronunciation: AL-eks
Themes & Categories
Etymology confidence: High

πŸ“– The Story Behind Alex

According to SSA data, Alex achieved its highest historical rank of #47 in 1995. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1993 with 7,639 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 51.3%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

πŸ“Š Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Alex across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -51.3% Decline
18801920196020002025

πŸ“ˆ Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 7,639 births in 1993
Years in Top 100 33 yrs
Years in Top 500 146 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Moderately Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 1,451
1890s: 1,448
1900s: 1,745
1910s: 7,871
1920s: 9,182
1930s: 6,306
1940s: 6,855
1950s: 8,198
1960s: 12,034
1970s: 13,997
1980s: 38,712
1990s: 70,830
2000s: 63,781
2010s: 32,605
2020s: 11,154

πŸ“ Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Al-ex
Letter Count 4 letters
Spelling Complexity Easy
Length Percentile Longer than 1.4% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 1.4% of SSA names. Starts with A, a letter used by only 10.8% of SSA names.

πŸ› οΈ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

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πŸ“ Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Nevada
Top States Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Utah
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Nevada #214 1,694 2004 57.6% Decline
Arizona #209 5,907 2005 25.9% Decline
New Mexico #194 2,336 1999 Insufficient historical volume
California #153 40,503 1993 33.9% Decline
Utah #475 3,260 1989 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #142 12,910 2003 10.5% Decline
Wisconsin #340 6,679 1992 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #398 3,988 2003 50.0% Decline
Washington #220 5,350 1998 32.1% Decline
Oregon #312 2,867 1998 48.0% Decline
Louisiana #278 5,701 1998 48.6% Decline
New Jersey #200 8,669 1995 15.5% Decline
Alaska Unranked 433 1986 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #275 5,719 1992 35.3% Decline
Connecticut #197 3,333 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho Unranked 1,173 1987 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #257 999 1995 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #207 22,460 2004 22.4% Decline
New York #248 22,383 1995 41.7% Decline
Illinois #211 14,256 1993 30.9% Decline
Iowa #347 3,765 1988 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota #226 962 1988 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #336 2,039 1991 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire Unranked 845 1989 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #346 9,609 1994 21.9% Decline
Kansas #297 2,611 1989 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont Unranked 423 1993 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #258 6,722 2004 43.5% Decline
Mississippi #313 2,996 2000 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #298 10,863 1993 25.5% Decline
Delaware Unranked 479 1993 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #309 6,653 2007 25.0% Decline
Rhode Island #141 844 1995 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #272 5,432 1996 +20.0% Growth
Wyoming Unranked 309 1997 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #273 2,475 1995 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #207 5,605 1990 26.8% Decline
Alabama #223 4,142 1994 30.6% Decline
Hawaii Unranked 659 1989 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #273 4,550 1993 27.3% Decline
Pennsylvania #286 11,428 1994 16.7% Decline
South Carolina #327 3,092 2006 Insufficient historical volume
Maine Unranked 929 1993 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #326 4,681 1998 28.6% Decline
Maryland #269 3,073 1994 28.6% Decline
Kentucky #281 3,433 1992 Insufficient historical volume
Montana Unranked 598 1989 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #261 4,431 2006 36.5% Decline
Oklahoma #351 2,651 2002 51.9% Decline
District of Columbia #168 756 1992 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia Unranked 1,525 1993 Insufficient historical volume

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§ Sibling Name Suggestions

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