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Name Lineage

    The first name Alec

    A boy’s name from Greek.

    Pronounced /ˈælɪk/ 2 syllables Male

    Meaning and origin

    Greek origin

    Clipping of Alexander.

    Alec is a short form of

    .

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 30 boys were named Alec, making it the 1,007th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 109 births (#263).

    0100200 1996200020052010201520202025
    2,098
    babies named Alec, 1996–2025
    #1,007
    rank in 2025
    1996
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Alec with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Alec at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 234 boys born in the United States were named Alec, the 977th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1995, when 3,420 were.

    02,0004,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    55,489
    babies named Alec since 1880
    #977
    rank in 2025
    1995
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Alec in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Алек
    Alek
    Bulgarian
    亞歷克 /亚历克
    Yàlìkè
    Chinese
    アレック
    Japanese
    Olek
    Polish
    А́лек
    Álek
    Russian
    Ailig
    Scottish Gaelic

    Spelled Alec in French too.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Alec

    41 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Alec Guinness
      British actor (1914–2000)
    • Alec Benjamin
      American singer-songwriter, born 1994
    • Alec Jeffreys
      British geneticist, born 1950
    • Alec John Such
      American bassist (1951–2022)
    • Alec Issigonis
      British car designer (1906–1988)
    • Alec Burks
      American basketball player (born 1991)
    • Alec Potts
      Australian archer, born 1996
    • Alec McCowen
      British actor (1925–2017)
    • Alec B. Francis
      British actor (1867-1934)
    • Alec Martinez
      American ice hockey player, born 1987
    • Alec Utgoff
      British actor, born 1986
    • Alec Georgen
      French association football player, born 1998

    More Greek boys’ names

    All 347 names of Greek origin

    Questions

    What does the name Alec mean?
    Clipping of Alexander.
    What is the origin of the name Alec?
    Clipping of Alexander.
    How popular is the name Alec?
    In 2025, 30 boys born in England and Wales were named Alec, ranking 1,007th. Its peak was 1996, with 109 births.
    Is Alec a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 55,489 US babies named Alec since 1880 were boys.
    When was Alec most popular?
    1995 in the United States, when 3,420 babies were named Alec, its highest rank at 112th.
    How do you pronounce Alec?
    Alec is /ˈælɪk/, 2 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Alec?
    Aleck and Alek.