
The short answer
Alexis is a unisex name used in French and English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From the Greek name Ἄλεξις (Alexis) meaning ‘helper’ or ‘defender’, derived from Greek ἀλέξω (alexo) meaning ‘to defend, to help’. This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek comic poet, and also of several saints." It ranked #513 for boys and #554 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from the Greek name Ἄλεξις (Alexis) meaning ‘helper’ or ‘defender’, derived from Greek ἀλέξω (alexo) meaning ‘to defend, to help’. This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek comic poet, and also of several saints. The entry lists its usage as French, English, Greek, Spanish and others.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Alexis ranked #513 for boys and #554 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (boys) | 2025 | #513 | ssa-2025 |
| United States (girls) | 2025 | #554 | ssa-2025 |
United States, 2025: #513 (Social Security Administration)
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (French) and that sit near Alexis in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Alexis mean?
Alexis means "helper", according to Behind the Name.
Is Alexis a popular name?
Alexis ranked #513 for boys and #554 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Alexis a boy's or a girl's name?
Alexis appears in both the boys' and girls' SSA lists for 2025, so it is used for both.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Alexis — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.