Alec
A boys’ name of Greek origin, meaning defender of men; short form of Alexander.
How Alec has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #455 |
| 2016 | #492 |
| 2017 | #505 |
| 2018 | #539 |
| 2019 | #543 |
| 2020 | #590 |
| 2021 | #680 |
| 2022 | #739 |
| 2023 | #840 |
| 2024 | #878 |
| 2025 | #977 |
Alec by the numbers
In 2025, 30 babies in England and Wales were named Alec. In the US, 569 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 3,421 babies in 1995, so it is a 1990s name that has since fallen a long way.
At its height, in 1995, about 1 in 590 American boys born that year was called Alec.
Other names that come from Alexander
Like Alec, each of these traces back to Alexander: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Alejandrodefender of men; Spanish form of Alexander2,027 in the US (2017)
- Zanderdefender of men; a diminutive of Alexander1,551 in the US (2017)
- Alexandriadefender of mankind; a form of Alexander1,238 in the US (2017)
- Alessandrodefender of men; Italian form of Alexander401 in the US (2017)
- Alexzanderdefender of men; invented spelling of Alexander226 in the US (2017)
- Alistairdefender of men; Scottish form of Alexander75 in England and Wales (2025)
- Aleksanderdefender of men; variant of Alexander84 in England and Wales (2025)
- Alisterdefender of men; a form of Alexander109 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Alec. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Alexdefender, helper; short form of Alexander or Alexis2,766 in the US (2017)
- Alekdefender of mankind; a diminutive of alexander114 in the US (2017)
- Alenbright; a form of Alan38 in the US (2017)
- Aleckdefender of men; a form of alexander15 in the US (2017)
- Alicdefender of men; short form of Alexander8 in the US (2017)
- Allecdefender of men; a form of Alexander8 in the US (2017)
Sounds like Alec
Names that are said the same way as Alec, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
Other names that mean a protector
Like Alec, each of these has a protector in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Liamresolute protector; short form of William18,764 in the US (2017)
- Williamresolute protector14,922 in the US (2017)
- Alexanderdefender of the people12,488 in the US (2017)
- Parkerkeeper of the park; park ranger5,833 in the US (2017)
- Alexisdefender, helper2,847 in the US (2017)
- Xanderdefender of mankind; short form of Alexander2,403 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Alec
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