Alec
Alec is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Defender of men.
Origin and history
Alec originated as a Scottish diminutive of Alexander, which comes from the Greek name Alexandros. It has long been used as an independent given name in the United States. While historically well-established, its usage has moderated in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
55,152 babies in the United States have been named Alec since 1880. It ranks #471 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #727.
States where it is most popular
- CA (13.6 %)
- TX (7.8 %)
- NY (6.1 %)
- IL (6 %)
- FL (5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 66 |
| 1890-1900 | 61 |
| 1900-1910 | 104 |
| 1910-1920 | 419 |
| 1920-1930 | 513 |
| 1930-1940 | 299 |
| 1940-1950 | 443 |
| 1950-1960 | 653 |
| 1960-1970 | 974 |
| 1970-1980 | 901 |
| 1980-1990 | 3,000 |
| 1990-2000 | 25,908 |
| 2000-2010 | 13,727 |
| 2010-2019 | 6,080 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,004 |
Famous people named Alec
- Alec Baldwin: Actor, Producer
- Alec Guinness: Actor
Fun facts
- Alec developed in Scotland as a familiar form of Alexander before gaining widespread recognition as an independent standalone name.
- The name appears notably in classical literature, such as Thomas Hardy's novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles.