Alex
Boy name · #232 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Alex? In official American birth records, Alex has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Alex ranks #232 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 1,515 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #134, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,188 boys born in 2025 was named Alex.
Babies named Alex per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Alex first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 147 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1993, when 7,639 boys were named Alex — good for #52 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Alex against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Alex in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Alex is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Alex is most common
Geography matters for names, and Alex is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Alex is most common in FL (1.6 per 1,000), NM (1.5 per 1,000), CA (1.4 per 1,000), CT (1.3 per 1,000), NV (1.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Alex is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Alex
Alex belongs to the Alexander family — closely related nicknames and spellings of the same name.
Counted as one name, the Alexander family went to about 10,374 boys in 2025 — together they'd rank around #10, versus #232 for Alex alone.
Names like Alex
Statistically, parents drawn to Alex tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Tyler, Grant, Antonio, Zachary, and Victor.
TylerGrantAntonioZacharyVictorCodyOmarAndres
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Alex | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,515 | #232 |
| 2024 | 1,728 | #205 |
| 2023 | 1,814 | #203 |
| 2022 | 2,006 | #189 |
| 2021 | 1,969 | #192 |
| 2020 | 2,122 | #183 |
| 2019 | 2,401 | #165 |
| 2018 | 2,526 | #153 |
| 2017 | 2,606 | #151 |
| 2016 | 2,855 | #146 |
| 2015 | 3,113 | #134 |
| 2014 | 3,192 | #128 |
| 2013 | 3,559 | #110 |
| 2012 | 3,870 | #98 |
| 2011 | 4,041 | #95 |
| 2010 | 4,442 | #93 |
| 2009 | 5,174 | #83 |
| 2008 | 5,400 | #84 |
| 2007 | 6,275 | #72 |
| 2006 | 6,670 | #67 |
| 2005 | 6,488 | #71 |
| 2004 | 6,812 | #63 |
| 2003 | 6,794 | #62 |
| 2002 | 6,807 | #63 |
| 2001 | 6,613 | #62 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Alex?
In official American birth records, the name Alex first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 147 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Alex a popular boy name?
Alex ranked #232 among boys in 2025 with 1,515 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #134.
When was the name Alex most popular?
Alex peaked in 1993, when 7,639 American boys received the name (ranked #52 that year). Since 1993 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Alex?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,188 newborn American boys was named Alex. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.