Aleks

Aleks is a Slavic and Scandinavian short form of Alexander, which derives from the ancient Greek name Alexandros, composed of the elements alexein, meaning to defend or protect, and aner, meaning man. The full form gained legendary status through Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king whose conquests spread the name across Europe and Asia. Aleks functions as both an independent given name and a familiar form, used widely across Russia, Poland, the Balkans, and the Nordic countries. Related forms include Alex, Aleksei, Aleksander, and Aleksandar.