Given name & surname
Alek
“helper and defender of mankind”
In English use, Alek is a variant of Alec. In Greek use, Alec carries the interpretation “helper and defender of mankind.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Alek is a variant of Alec. In Greek use, Alec carries the interpretation “helper and defender of mankind.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Alek is a diminutive of Alexander. Alexander has been associated with Latin and Greek naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Alek is a diminutive of Alexander.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1916. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Alek through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,649
- 4,563 boys · 86 girls
- Most popular year
- 2007
- 162 babies
- 2025
- 50
- #2,604 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −24%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 50 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,604 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 22.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (15). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,344 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Alek’s family of names
In English usage, Alek is a diminutive of Alexander. In Polish usage, Alek has a conventional equivalent in the English form Alexis. In Polish usage, Alek has a conventional equivalent in the German form Alex.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Alek has relatives in 4 languages.
9 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Alek
- Alek WekSouth Sudanese-British model and designerborn 1977
- Alek KeshishianAmerican film directorborn 1964
- Alek SandarBulgarian singer, songwriter, music producerborn 1987
- Alek SkarlatosAmerican politicianborn 1992
- Alek EpsteinSociologist; Political scientistborn 1975
- Alek ManoahAmerican baseball playerborn 1998
- Alek JacobAmerican baseball playerborn 1998
Characters named Alek: Darth Malak (Star Wars character).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Alek, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Aron
“Exalted” · “mountain of strength”
>99% boys
Andy
“manly; a warrior” · “manliness”
96% boys · 4% girls
Adan
“man” · “of the earth”
99% boys · 1% girls
Erick
“a peaceful ruler” · “ever the ruler”
>99% boys
Angelo
“a messenger from God”
>99% boys
Ahmed
“more commendable” · “most praiseworthy”
>99% boys
Arturo
“strong as a bear”
>99% boys
Kaleb
“resembling an aggressive dog”
>99% boys