Alexa is a unique and distinctive given name of Greek origin. It is derived from the Greek word "alexein," which means "to defend" or "to protect." The name Alexa is believed to have been created as a female equivalent to the male name Alexander, which also has Greek origins and means "defender of the people."
The name Alexa first gained popularity in the United States during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was initially used more frequently for girls born to families with Greek heritage but soon became a popular choice among parents regardless of their ethnic background.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Alexa. One of the most famous is Alexa von Tobel, an American entrepreneur who founded LearnVest, a financial planning company, in 2008. Another notable figure is Alexa Chung, a British television presenter and fashion designer known for her work on Channel 4's Popworld.
In popular culture, the name Alexa has gained even more recognition due to Amazon's virtual assistant, also named Alexa. Introduced in 2014, this AI-powered device responds to voice commands and can perform various tasks such as playing music, providing weather updates, or controlling smart home devices.
Despite its recent popularity boost thanks to the Amazon product, the name Alexa has a rich history and meaningful origin that sets it apart from many other modern names. Its strong and protective connotation continues to appeal to parents seeking a unique yet meaningful name for their daughters.
The name Allexa had a noticeable peak in popularity between 1995 and 2003, with the highest number of births recorded in 2003 at 13. Despite fluctuations throughout the years, the overall total of births from 1991 to 2014 was 102.