Alec

Meaning: Defender of mankind
Origin: Greek — Short form of Alexander

Boy's name · #977 in the US (2025) · 90s wave

Popularity over time

Alec's best rank, #109, came in 1994; it has stepped well back to #977 today. Roughly 55,000 boys have been named Alec since 1880.

Across the states

See where Alec is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 28 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Alec ranks in other countries and regions.

#495 in Scotland (2025) · #504 in France (2025) · #555 in Canada (2025) · #625 in Switzerland (2025) · #799 in Belgium (2025) · #829 in Ireland (2025) · #1,007 in England & Wales (2025) · #1,040 in Netherlands (2025) · #2,948 in Italy (2024) · #2,992 in Ecuador (2025) · #595 in Poland (2024) · #1,140 in Sweden (2024) and 4 more.

Famous Alecs

Alec Baldwin — American actor (born 1958)
Alec Guinness — British actor (1914–2000)
Alec Douglas-Home — Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1963 to 1964 (1903–1995)
Alec Benjamin — American singer and songwriter (born 1994)
Alec Jeffreys — British geneticist (born 1950)

In stories & tradition

Alec Trevelyan — GoldenEye (film)
Alec Holland — Swamp Thing (book)
Alec Gilroy — Fictional character from Coronation Street

What Alecs become

Among 623 notable people named Alec:

Sports figures appear 2.12× more often than among typical names — e.g. Alec Burks, American basketball player (born 1991).

Similar names: Alex · Nickolas · Aldo · Deandre · Alexis · Toby

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service