Alexa

♀ Girl

Pronounced uh-LEK-suh /əˈlɛk.sə/High

Meaning: Defender of men; feminine form of Alexander, from Greek alexein (to defend) + aner/andros (man)High

In 30 seconds: A crisp Greek name meaning 'defender of men,' the feminine form of Alexander. It thrived in the 1990s–2000s and has since dipped slightly — partly because Amazon named its voice assistant Alexa in 2014.

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Origin HighGreek

MeaningDefender of men; feminine form of Alexander, from Greek alexein (to defend) + aner/andros (man)

U.S. rank (2025)#1029 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births243 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2006

Total births (all-time)≈ 131,547

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Alexa is a short feminine form of Alexandra, which is the feminine of Alexander, from Greek alexein (to defend) and aner (man). The name has been used in English-speaking countries since at least the 19th century as a standalone name rather than just a nickname.

Alexa entered the U.S. popularity charts for girls in the 1990s and remained popular through the 2000s, peaking around 2003–2005. Following Amazon's choice of Alexa as its AI assistant name in 2014, the name began a steady decline, dropping out of the top ranks and continuing to fall by 2024. The case is now studied as an example of brand-naming impact on personal names.

Did you know? After Amazon launched Alexa in 2014, parents began avoiding the name — concerned their daughters would be confused with, or respond to, a smart speaker. U.S. birth registrations for Alexa dropped noticeably in the years after the product launch.

Overall data confidence 93%

Behind the Name — Alexa — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data showing post-2014 decline

Variations

AlexiaAleksa

Nicknames

LexLexiAlex

Famous Bearers

★Alexa Chung (1983–present)
British television presenter, model, and fashion designer, a prominent media figure in the UK and internationally.

If you like Alexa…

Alexia— Alex- variant name sharing the same Greek root

Alexandra— the full form from which Alexa descends

Lexi— the common nickname for Alexa and Alexia

Alex— the short unisex form of the same Greek root

Explore names like Alexa

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Alexa mean?

Alexa is a feminine form of Alexander, from Greek alexein (to defend) and aner (man) — meaning 'defender of men.'

How do you pronounce Alexa?

It's said uh-LEK-suh — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Alexa a boy or girl name?

Alexa is used primarily as a girls' name.

How popular is Alexa?

Alexa ranked #1029 for U.S. girls in 2024, having declined sharply from its previous popularity following the launch of Amazon's Alexa assistant in 2014.