Given name
Alexei
“helper and defender of mankind”
Alexei is a variant of Alexis. In Greek use, Alexis carries the interpretation “helper and defender of mankind.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Alexei is a variant of Alexis. In Greek use, Alexis carries the interpretation “helper and defender of mankind.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1961. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Alexei through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,486
- 1,369 boys · 117 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 56 babies
- 2025
- 36
- #3,245 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +14%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 36 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,245 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 8.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,821 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.
Alexei’s family of names
Alexei has a related form in Alexis. In English usage, Alexei has a related form in Alexey. In English usage, Alexei has a related form in Aleksei.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Alexei has relatives in 4 languages.
5 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 16
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Alexei
- Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of RussiaLast Russian tsesarevich and heir apparent of the Russian Empire (1904–1918); youngest child of Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna (Alix of Hesse)
- Alexei EremenkoFinnish-Russian footballer (born 1983)
- Lex FridmanAmerican computer scientist and podcasterborn 1983
- Alexei FedchenkoRussian naturalist and traveler (1844-1873)
- Alexei PopyrinAustralian tennis player (born 1999)
- Alexei PanshinAmerican writer and critic (1940–2022)
- Alexei MateeviciRomanian writer (1888-1917)
- Alexei Ramírezbaseball playerborn 1981
- Alexei KhvostovRussian statesman and politician (1872-1918)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Alexei, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.