Alexis means defender — from the Greek alexein. In the Byzantine Empire, Alexios was an emperor's name. Schitt's Creek's Alexis Rose is one of TV's most beloved characters. Alexis de Tocqueville wrote the most important book about America by a foreigner. Alexis works for any gender and carries Byzantine crowns, Canadian comedy, and French political philosophy.
Alexis comes from the Greek meaning defender. Emperor Alexios I Komnenos ruled the Byzantine Empire. Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–1859) wrote Democracy in America. Schitt's Creek's Alexis Rose (Annie Murphy) is one of the most beloved comedy characters of recent years. Alexis has been popular for both genders.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Byzantine Empire — Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (1048–1118); used for both genders.
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Today
Alexis remains a beloved choice, ranking #272 in the US. 411,469 babies have been named Alexis since 1882.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Alexis?
1998peak year
Alexis has been losing ground. Once far more common, it has been declining steadily in recent years. It currently ranks around #272, with about 2,264 babies named Alexis each year. Its all-time peak came in 1998, when it climbed to #6 with 19,778 registrations — the heart of the 1990s. Total registrations across all years since 1880: roughly 411,469.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
19,778 Babies named in peak year (ranked #6)
2,264Avg. per year (last decade)
22,640Total registrations last 10 years
411,469All-time total (since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #272)Very popular
Alexis's Life Path 5 is the adventurer's number — defending through adventure. People named Alexis tend to be versatile, charming, and gifted at defending their people with style.
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