Aleks

Aleks is a short form of the Greek name Alexandros, composed of the elements alexein, meaning to defend or protect, and aner, meaning man, giving the overall sense of defender of men. It gained widespread use across Europe largely through the fame of Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king whose conquests spread Greek culture across a vast territory. The form Aleks is particularly common in Slavic and Scandinavian countries as an informal or independent given name. Related forms include Alex, Aleksander, Aleksei, and Alexandre.