Alex

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Alex

Gender: Masculine and Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Alex comes from the Greek “alexein” (to defend) and is usually short for Alexander, Alexandra, or Alexis.

History:
Oddly enough, Alex was one of the few nicknames or shortened names that did not become more popular during the mid-20th century.
Please see Alexander, or Alexandra for additional information.

Pronunciation: al-ex.

Alternates (masculine): Alec, Aleck, Alyx.

Alternates (feminine): Alexa, Alix, Alyx.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Alex Raymond (m., 1909-1956)
American cartoonist.
Alex Haley (m., 1921-1992)
American author.
Alex La Guma (m., 1925-1985)
South African author.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census, for males:
0.115 % named Alex
0.006 % named Alec

Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census, for females:
0.006 % named Alexa
0.002 % named Alix
less than 0.001 % named Alex

Popularity of Alex, for males:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1800: 100th most popular.
1850: 43rd most popular.
1875: 117th most popular.
1900-1910: 137th most popular.
1910-1920: 132nd most popular.
1920-1930: 177th most popular.
1930-1940: 222nd most popular.
1940-1950: 231st most popular.
1950-1960: 250th most popular.
1960-1970: 224th most popular.
1970-1980: 177th most popular.
1980-1990: 79th most popular.
1990: 62nd most popular.
1991: 64th most popular.
1992: 55th most popular.
1993: 53rd most popular.
1994: 52nd most popular.
1995: 48th most popular.
1996: 53rd most popular.
1997: 55th most popular.
1998: 55th most popular.
1999: 58th most popular.
2000: 63rd most popular.
2001: 61st most popular.
2002: 62nd most popular.
2003: 62nd most popular.

In France...
1900-1930: N/A
1935: 188th most popular.
1940: 171st most popular.
1950: 118th most popular.
1960: 136th most popular.
1969: 187th most popular.
1970-1980: N/A
1989: 175th most popular.
1990: 178th most popular.
2000: 70th most popular.

In Ireland...
1998: 59th most popular.
1999: 57th most popular.
2000: 48th most popular.
2001: 45th most popular.
2002: 35th most popular.
2003: 29th most popular.