Lex

Lex - A very unique male name

Lex appeared on the charts for the first time in 1919 on position #1262. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Lex and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Lex? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Lex. The baby boy name Lex was given to 18 baby boys in 2025, ranking #2549 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 81,460 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Lex peaked in popularity 70 years ago in 1956 on position 1032.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Lex, 1-5?

Lex is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Lex is currently topping the baby name charts in Illinois at position #1,413 - and is the least popular in California at position #1,928.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Lex is where you live.

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Lex origin and meaning

Greek / Latin — short form

Uncertain — Lex is used both as a short form of Alexander, 'defender of men', and from Latin lex, 'law'; neither source covers all its use

Lex has two live sources: the clipped form of Alexander, and the Latin word lex, law. It was used in small numbers through the twentieth century and peaked most recently in 2022. Its defining figure is fictional — Superman's nemesis, born Alexander Joseph Luthor and known universally as Lex.

Origin uncertain

Lex is a 3 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Lex, pop culture references for the name Lex and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Lex

We've found the following names that sound similar to Lex, sorted by popularity.

Louis / Lucas / Luke / Luis / Lewis / Luca / Lukas / Luka / Lucca / Lucius /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Lex

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Lex a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Lex?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

LEKS · /lɛks/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Alexander — The full name it most often shortens

Famous bearers

• Lex Luthor — Superman's arch-enemy in DC comics and films; born Alexander Joseph Luthor, known as Lex (Fictional, 1940) Fictional

Style

Short form

Why parents choose it

Lex is punchy and minimal, with a cool, slightly dangerous edge.

Worth knowing

• The Luthor association is a villain, and Lex may be assumed to be short for Alexander