Alexis
/a.lek.si/
Alexis comes from the Greek Ἄλεξις (Alexis), derived from αλέξω (alexo) meaning “to defend” or “to help.” It was borne by a 3rd-century BC Greek comic poet and several Byzantine saints.
Five Byzantine emperors bore the related name Alexios. In France and Russia, Alexis has been used continuously since the medieval period as both a male and female name.
As a boy’s name, Alexis peaked at No. 103 in 2004 with 4,175 births. In 2024 it ranks No. 484 with 636 births, significantly below its mid-2000s height.
What the name Alexis means
In the US, Alexis became predominantly female in the 1980s after the soap opera Dynasty. The male form persists, especially in Hispanic and French-speaking communities.
Three syllables - uh-LEK-sis - are brisk and elegant. The liquid consonants and sibilant ending give it a polished, international sound.
As a boy’s name, Alexis carries Greek philosophical weight and Byzantine imperial prestige - associations lost when the name is viewed only through its American female lens.
Parents who use Alexis for boys often have French, Greek, or Hispanic backgrounds, where the name has always been predominantly masculine.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Alexis
Alexis - similar names
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