US Popularity Rank: 17301

Origin: Greek

Meaning: Man's defender, warrior

Despite being a short-form for Aleksander, the boy's name Aleks boasts a mighty origin story. Thanks to its Greek roots, you'll probably be familiar with its most famous bearer, Alexander the Great. This ancient Greek king and hero took his name's meaning of "man's defender” or “warrior" to heart. By age 30, he had built one of the greatest empires in history. If you're more of a science or musical theatre nerd, think Hamilton, Graham Bell, and Fleming. However your little munchkin makes their mark, they'll have plenty of role models for aspiring to greatness. Aleks is a popular choice worldwide, from Denmark to Russia, and has many variants to explore, such as Alex, Alek, Aleko, and Alik.