Where does the name Alexa come from?

Alexa is a girl name of Ancient Greek origin.

Is Alexa a boy or a girl name?

Alexa is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 100% of children given the name Alexa are girls and 0% are boys.

How popular is the name Alexa in 2023?

Alexa ranks #606 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2006 with 6,125 babies.

How do you pronounce Alexa?

Alexa is pronounced a-LEK-sa (3 syllables).

What are common spellings of Alexa?

Alexa is also written as Alexia, Alessa, Alyxa.

A name from Ancient Greek · Girl

Alexa

A short form of Alexandra, from Greek alexein ('to defend') + anēr ('man'); 'defender of mankind'. Surged in U.S. popularity in the 2000s; Amazon's voice assistant later dampened parental enthusiasm.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 107-year arc in numbers.

130,959 U.S. births recorded from 1916–2023.

Popularity · 1916–2023

492 births in 2023

1916 1969 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

AA short form of Alexandra, from Greek alexein ('to defend') + anēr ('man'); 'defender of mankind'. Surged in U.S. popularity in the 2000s; Amazon's voice assistant later dampened parental enthusiasm.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Alexa".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Alexia Most common Alessa Alyxa

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Alexa.

A
Alexa Chung (model and TV host)
A
Alexa Bliss (WWE wrestler)
A
Alexa PenaVega (actress)

Quick answers

People often ask about Alexa.

What does the name Alexa mean?: Alexa means a short form of Alexandra, from Greek alexein ('to defend') + anēr ('man'); 'defender of mankind'. Surged in U.S. popularity in the 2000s; Amazon's voice assistant later dampened parental enthusiasm.
Where does the name Alexa come from?: Alexa is a girl name of Ancient Greek origin.
Is Alexa a boy or a girl name?: Alexa is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 100% of children given the name Alexa are girls and 0% are boys.
How popular is the name Alexa in 2023?: Alexa ranks #606 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2006 with 6,125 babies.
How do you pronounce Alexa?: Alexa is pronounced a-LEK-sa (3 syllables).
What are common spellings of Alexa?: Alexa is also written as Alexia, Alessa, Alyxa.

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From Greek Kynthia, an epithet of the goddess Artemis — meaning 'she of Mount Kynthos', the mountain on Delos where Artemis was said to have been born

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From Greek Aikaterinē, traditionally connected to katharos meaning 'pure'

Doris

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From Greek Dōris, a Nereid (sea-nymph) — daughter of Oceanus and mother of the fifty Nereids by Nereus

Kathryn

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Modern spelling variant of Katherine, from Greek Aikaterinē — traditionally connected to katharos meaning 'pure'

Eugene

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From Greek Eugenios — eu ('well, good') + genos ('born'); 'well-born' or 'noble'

Kathy

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A short form of Katherine, from Greek Aikaterinē — traditionally linked to katharos meaning 'pure'

About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.