Declining since 2007, #1,029 for girls today.
Popularity of Alexa since 1916
Babies named Alexa per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2006, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Alexa's real moment was 2015.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 10 |
| 1920s | 45 |
| 1930s | 17 |
| 1940s | 219 |
| 1950s | 409 |
| 1960s | 441 |
| 1970s | 1,564 |
| 1980s | 4,785 |
| 1990s | 30,294 |
| 2000s | 48,114 |
| 2010s | 41,999 |
| 2020s | 3,654 |
Meaning & origin
Alexa has been in use since at least 1916, but its journey from a modestly given name to a household staple reflects broader naming trends. It reached its peak in 2015, when it ranked highest in popularity, but has been on a steady decline since 2007. As of 2025, it ranks 1029, with 1 in 6,614 baby girls receiving the name. The name has shown a strong regional appeal, appearing most frequently in top state lists for Kansas, Illinois, and Maryland. The trajectory of Alexa illustrates how media and technology can influence name choices: its rise coincided with the growing presence of voice assistants, though the name itself predates modern devices. Despite the decline, Alexa remains a familiar and well-liked choice, carrying the strong meaning of 'defender of mankind' from its Greek roots.
Alexa is a feminine given name derived from the Greek name Alexios, meaning 'defender' or 'helper'. It is a short form of Alexandra, the feminine counterpart of Alexander. The name has been in use in English-speaking countries since the 19th century, but gained widespread popularity in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Where Alexa is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Alexa” around the world
Where Alexa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lex, Lexi, Al, Allie
Sibling names for Alexa
Names that share Alexa's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Alexa
Names whose popularity has moved with Alexa's over the last 50 years.
