# Alex

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /ˈæ.lɪks/ · frequency rank #2,378

## Definitions
1. A unisex given name from Ancient Greek.

## Etymology
Clipping of Alexander, from Ancient Greek Ἀλέξανδρος (Aléxandros) 'he who wards off men', i.e. protector, possibly of Hittite origin. Also from Alexius, from the same Ancient Greek first element, "helping, defending". These two origins of Alex are indistinguishable in most languages. The female name has the same root, a clipping of Alexandra or the female name Alexis, in some cases also a spelling variant of Alix.

## Easily confused with
- **ax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-ax)
- **are** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-are)
- **all** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-all)
- **ate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-ate)
- **Ali** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-ali)
- **ave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-ave)
- **aye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-aye)
- **alt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-alt)
- **awe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-awe)
- **axe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-axe)
- **ape** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-ape)
- **aux** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-aux)
- **als** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-als)
- **alf** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-alf)
- **alp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-alp)
- **AmE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-ame)
- **alm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-alm)
- **also** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-also)
- **area** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-area)
- **ally** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alex-vs-ally)

## Common misspellings (5)
`aelx`, `alexx`, `allex`, `alxe`, `laex`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/alex