Alex is a name of Greek origin, derived from the Greek word 'alexein', which means 'to defend' or 'to protect'. It is also related to the name Alexander, which means 'defending men'.
The name Alex has been used for centuries and has been popular in many different cultures. In ancient Greece, it was often given to boys as a symbol of strength and courage. In more recent times, it has been used as both a male and female name.
Historically, there have been several notable figures named Alex throughout history. One of the most famous is Alexander the Great, who was a king of Macedon in the 4th century BCE. He was known for his military conquests and is considered one of the greatest generals in history.
In literature and popular culture, Alex has also been used as a name for various characters. Some examples include Alex P. Keaton from the TV show Family Ties, Alexander 'Alex' Rushmore from the movie Rushmore, and Alexandra 'Alex' Santiago from the book and movie The Blind Side.
Overall, Alex is a name with a strong and meaningful origin that has been used throughout history and across different cultures. Whether it's given as a male or female name, it carries a powerful meaning of defense and protection.
The name Alex has been a popular choice for parents in the United States over the past century and a half. The first recorded birth of a child named Alex occurred in 1880, with 147 babies being given this name that year. This number fluctuated annually until the turn of the century when it began to climb steadily.
In 1908, there were 199 births with the name Alex, marking a significant increase from previous years. The trend continued into the early 1900s, reaching a peak of 482 births in 1912 and 604 in 1913.
The popularity of the name Alex then began to decline slightly, dropping below 500 births per year between 1921 and 1927. However, it picked up again in the late 1930s and early 1940s, reaching a high of 706 births in 1946.
The name Alex continued to be popular throughout the mid-20th century, with over 800 births per year between 1954 and 1969. In 1970, there were a record 1403 babies named Alex, making it one of the most popular names that decade.
The popularity of the name Alex has varied throughout recent decades but has remained relatively stable with over 2000 births per year between 1980 and 2015. Since then, however, there has been a decline in its popularity, dropping below 2000 births annually from 2016 onwards.
As of the latest data available (2023), Alex is still a popular name among parents in the United States, with 1806 births recorded. Overall, since record-keeping began, there have been a total of 282866 babies named Alex born in the US.