The name Alejo is of Spanish origin and means "follower of Jesus" or "defender of humanity". It is a variation of the Latin name Aelius, which was used by several ancient Roman families and also means "eloquent".
The name Alejo has been popular in Spain for centuries and has been borne by several notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous bearers of this name was Saint Alejo (also known as Alexis), who was a monk and bishop in the 4th century AD. He is considered one of the patron saints of Spain and his feast day is celebrated on March 25.
In literature, there have been several characters named Alejo, including Alejo Carpentier, a Cuban writer and one of the founders of the Latin American Boom movement, and Alejo Venegas, a character in Gabriel García Márquez's novel "Love in the Time of Cholera".
Today, Alejo remains a popular name in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries. It is also used as a unisex name, although it is more commonly given to boys.
Overall, the name Alejo has a strong historical and cultural significance in Spain and Latin America, with its meaning reflecting values such as loyalty, defense of others, and eloquence.
Here are some observations on the name Alejo's popularity based on these statistics:
- The name Alejo has experienced varied popularity over the past century, with notable fluctuations from year to year.
- The peak years for the name were between 1956 and 1973, with a high of 11 births in 1958. This could indicate that the name was more commonly used among parents during this period.
- There is a significant dip in popularity from 1924 to 1932, with fewer than 7 births each year.
- In recent years (2016 onwards), the name has gained some traction again, with numbers ranging from 7 to 17 births per year. This could suggest renewed interest or a cyclical trend in the name's popularity.
- Overall, the total number of births with the name Alejo is 872 over this period, indicating that it has been used consistently but not exceptionally frequently compared to other names.