Alex

Alex is a short form of Alexander, derived from the ancient 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 in the ancient world through Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king whose conquests spread Greek culture across much of Asia and the Middle East. Alex functions as both a given name and a nickname in its own right across many European languages and cultures, and it is used for people of any gender. Related forms include Alexander, Alexandra, Alexis, and Alec.