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Name Lineage

    The first name Alexis

    A unisex name from Greek meaning “helper”, “defender”.

    Pronounced /əˈlɛks.ɪs/ 3 syllables Unisex Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Greek origin

    Alexis means “helper”, “defender” in Greek.

    From French Alexis, from Latin Alexis, ultimately from Ancient Greek Ἄλεξις (Álexis, “helper, defender”).

    More names that mean protector.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 34 girls were named Alexis, making it the 997th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2012, with 576 births (#101).

    0300600 1996200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    6,615
    babies named Alexis, 1996–2025
    #997
    rank in 2025
    2012
    peak year

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

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Alexis at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 584 boys born in the United States were named Alexis, the 513th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1998, when 19,778 were.

    010,00020,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    412,632
    babies named Alexis since 1880
    #513
    rank in 2025
    1998
    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.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Alexis

    157 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Alexis de Tocqueville
      French political thinker and historian, minister of Foreign Affairs (1805-1859)
    • Alexis Carrel
      French surgeon and biologist, 1873–1944
    • Alexis Sánchez
      Chilean footballer (born 1988)
    • Alexis Bledel
      American actress, born 1981
    • Alexis Mac Allister
      Argentine association football player (born 1998)
    • Alexis Clairaut
      French mathematician, astronomer, and geophysicist (*1713 – †1765)
    • Alexis Texas
      American pornographic actress (b. 1985)
    • Alexis Saelemaekers
      Belgian footballer (born 1999)
    • Alexis Bouvard
      French astronomer (1767-1843)
    • Alexis Arquette
      American actress (1969–2016)
    • Alexis Vastine
      French boxer (1986–2015)
    • Alexis Denisof
      American actor, born 1966

    More Greek unisex names

    All 347 names of Greek origin

    Questions

    What does the name Alexis mean?
    Alexis means “helper”, “defender” in Greek.
    What is the origin of the name Alexis?
    From French Alexis, from Latin Alexis, ultimately from Ancient Greek Ἄλεξις (Álexis, “helper, defender”).
    How popular is the name Alexis?
    In 2025, 34 girls born in England and Wales were named Alexis, ranking 997th. Its peak was 2012, with 576 births.
    Is Alexis a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 412,632 US babies named Alexis since 1880, 84% were girls and 16% boys.
    When was Alexis most popular?
    1998 in the United States, when 19,778 babies were named Alexis, its highest rank at 6th.
    How do you pronounce Alexis?
    Alexis is /əˈlɛks.ɪs/, 3 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Alexis?
    Lexis.
    Is Alexis also a surname?
    Yes. Alexis is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.