Alec
Boy name · #977 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Alec? In official American birth records, Alec has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Alec is currently the #977 boy name in the United States — 234 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #456, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,692 boys born in 2025 was named Alec.
The 145-year story
Alec first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 11 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1995, when 3,420 boys were named Alec — good for #112 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Alec per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Alec against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Alec in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Alec is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Alec will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Alec is most common
Geography matters for names, and Alec is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Alec is most common in AZ (0.3 per 1,000), CA (0.2 per 1,000), TX (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.2 per 1,000), NY (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Alec is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Alec
Alec belongs to the Alexander family — closely related nicknames and spellings of the same name.
Counted as one name, the Alexander family went to about 10,374 boys in 2025 — together they'd rank around #10, versus #977 for Alec alone.
Names like Alec
Statistically, parents drawn to Alec tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kody, Devon, Trey, Austen, and Darian.
KodyDevonTreyAustenDarianDillonDariusDuncan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Alec | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 234 | #977 |
| 2024 | 274 | #880 |
| 2023 | 290 | #841 |
| 2022 | 346 | #745 |
| 2021 | 390 | #682 |
| 2020 | 470 | #588 |
| 2019 | 518 | #543 |
| 2018 | 521 | #539 |
| 2017 | 575 | #506 |
| 2016 | 617 | #492 |
| 2015 | 665 | #456 |
| 2014 | 624 | #467 |
| 2013 | 626 | #453 |
| 2012 | 606 | #449 |
| 2011 | 659 | #421 |
| 2010 | 669 | #417 |
| 2009 | 730 | #406 |
| 2008 | 774 | #389 |
| 2007 | 872 | #363 |
| 2006 | 982 | #329 |
| 2005 | 1,127 | #292 |
| 2004 | 1,333 | #246 |
| 2003 | 1,526 | #226 |
| 2002 | 1,749 | #206 |
| 2001 | 2,155 | #173 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Alec?
In official American birth records, the name Alec first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 11 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Alec a popular boy name?
Alec ranked #977 among boys in 2025 with 234 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #456.
When was the name Alec most popular?
Alec peaked in 1995, when 3,420 American boys received the name (ranked #112 that year). Since 1995 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Alec?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,692 newborn American boys was named Alec. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.