Alec
Boy name · 203 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Alec: 203 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 12 births in 2007.
Short and sturdy, Alec is a Scottish form of Alexander, ultimately from the Greek *Alexandros*, meaning "defender of men." It emerged as a distinct given name in its own right, particularly popular in 20th-century Scotland. Perhaps its most famous bearer was the enigmatic actor Alec Guinness, whose career spanned from Shakespearean theatre to the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in *Star Wars*. In politics, Alec Douglas-Home served briefly as British Prime Minister in the 1960s. The name also shares its root with the city of Alexandria in Egypt, founded by Alexander the Great. Alec remains a timeless, no-nonsense choice, less formal than Alexander yet carrying the same heroic weight.
Boy 41 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 200712 babies
- Latest (2025)
- #4956 babies
- Total births
- 203since 1974
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y