Alex

See also: Alex.

English

Etymology

Short form of 'Alexander', from Latin Alexander, from Ancient Greek Ἀλέξανδρος (Aléksandros) 'he who wards off men', i.e. protector, possibly of Hittite origin. Also from 'Alexius', from the same Ancient Greek root, alexios "helping, defending". These two origins of Alex are indistinguishable in most languages.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /ˈælɪks/

Proper noun

Alex (plural Alexes)

1. A male given name.
   • 2006 Kate Atkinson, One Good Turn (Black Swan(2007), ISBN 9780552772440), page 81:

     Martin was pretty dull as names went but 'Alex Blake' had a certain dash to it. His publishers hadn't considered Martin's own name to be 'punchy' enough. The pseudonym Alex Blake was chosen after much deliberation, most of which excluded Martin. 'A strong, no-nonsense sort of name', his editor said, 'to compensate'. For what, she didn't say.

2. A female given name, short form of Alexandra or the female name Alexis, or a spelling variant of Alix.
   • 2008 Philip Hensher, The Northern Clemency (Harpercollins, ISBN 9780007174799), page 588:

     'I had a Christmas card from someone calling herself Alex the year before last,' Daniel said. 'I couldn't think who it was.'

     'Oh, yes, she's changed again,' Alice said. 'I never got used to Alexandra, either. It never occurred to me that Sandra was short for Alexandra - anyway, she's Sandra on her birth certificate.'

Translations

male given name — see Alexius

Anagrams

• axel, Axel
• axle

---

Danish

Proper noun

Alex

1. A male given name derived from Alexander and Alexius.

---

Dutch

Etymology

From Latin, from Ancient Greek; see Alexand Alexander for more.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈaːlɛks/

Proper noun

Alex ?

1. A male given name, short form of Alexander.

References

• J. van der Schaar, “Woordenboek van voornamen”, Utrecht, Antwerpen 1964, Aula-boeken 176, Uitgeverij Het Spectrum

---

Finnish

Proper noun

Alex

1. A male given name.

Declension

Inflection of Alex (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)

		singular	plural
nominative		Alex	Alexit
accusative	nom.?	Alex	Alexit
	gen.	Alexin
genitive		Alexin	Alexien
partitive		Alexia	Alexeja
inessive		Alexissa	Alexeissa
elative		Alexista	Alexeista
illative		Alexiin	Alexeihin
adessive		Alexilla	Alexeilla
ablative		Alexilta	Alexeilta
allative		Alexilleˣ	Alexeilleˣ
essive		Alexina	Alexeina
translative		Alexiksi	Alexeiksi
instructive		—	Alexein
abessive		Alexitta	Alexeitta
comitative		—	Alexeineen

---

French

Etymology

From Latin, from Ancient Greek; see Alexand Alexander for more. Also from Alexis, the French form of Alexius.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.lɛks/

Proper noun

Alex

1. A male given name, short form of Alexander and Alexis.

Anagrams

• Axel

---

German

Proper noun

Alex

1. A male given name derived from Alexander and Alexius.

---

Swedish

Proper noun

Alex

1. A male given name derived from Alexander and Alexius.