Alexis (given name)

Infobox Given Name Revised
name = Alexis


imagesize=200
caption=The name Alexis has been used in large part due to Saint Alexius of Rome| pronunciation=
gender = female, male
meaning = "helper, defender"
region =
nickname =
origin = Greek
related names =
footnotes =

Alexis is a given name derived from the Greek word αλεξω or "alexo", meaning "to help, defend." It was the name of several saints venerated by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, including Saint Alexis of Rome, and of a Russian tsar, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich of Russia. It was used as a name for several other members of the ruling house of Russia, including Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia and Alexei Petrovich, Tsarevich of Russia.

The name was traditionally male, though it has been in use as a girls name in the United States since at least the 1940s, when actress Alexis Smith (born Gladys Smith) began appearing in movies, and has been among the top 50 most popular names for girls in the United States since 1990. In the 2008 book "5-Star Baby Name Advisor", author Bruce Lansky writes that the girls name has the image of a "sexy and seductive knockout." [Lansky, p. 16] The increase in popularity of the name is sometimes attributed to the 1981 debut of the character Alexis Colby on the American television series "Dynasty." A 1978 movie, "Ice Castles", featured as the main character a blind figure skater named Alexis "Lexie" Winston.

"Aleksi", a Finnish variant, was the third most popular name for boys born in Finland in 2007.Helsingin Sanomat, October 16, 2007. [http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Aino+and+Eetu+top+list+of+most+popular+childrens+names+/1135231071996 Aino and Eetu top list of most popular children's names] . Retrieved February 10, 2008.] "Alessia", an Italian feminine variant, was the second most common name for girls born in Italy in 2006. [Rosenkrantz, Linda, and Satran, Pamela Redmond (2008). "Cool Names for Babies". St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 978-0-312-37786-1, p. 21] Alexis was the 75th most popular name for baby boys born in Belgium in 2006; the 11th most popular name for boys born in France in 2004 and was the 158th most popular name for boys born in the United States in 2007. Alexis was the 19th most popular name for girls born in the United States in 2007. Variant "Alexa" was the 40th most popular name for girls in the United States in 2007 and variant "Alexia" was the 179th most popular name for girls in the United States in 2007.

Masculine variants

*Ale (Finnish)
*Alexi (Russian)
*Aleixo (Portuguese), (Galician)
*Alejo (Spanish)
*Aleksei (Russian)
*Aleksey (Russian)
*Aleksi (Finnish)
*Aleksy (Polish)
*Aleš (Czech), (Slovenian)
*Alessio (Italian)
*Alexei (Russian)
*Alexej (Czech)
*Alexey (Russian)
*Alexios (Greek)
*Alexius (Ancient Greek)
*Alyosha (Russian)
*Elek (Hungarian)
*Lex (English)
*Lyosha (Russian)
*Oleksiy (Ukrainian)

Feminine variants

*Alessa (Italian)
*Alessia (Italian)
*Alexa (English)
*Alexia (English), (German), (Greek)
*Alexina (English)
*Lexa (English)
*Lexia (English)
*Lexi (English)
*Lexie (English)
*Lexy (English)
*Lexus (English) [ [http://www.behindthename.com/php/search.php?nmd=n&terms=Alexis Behind the Name] ]

Notes

References

*Lansky, Bruce (2008). "5-Star Baby Name Advisor". Meadowbrook Press. ISBN 978-0-684-05784-2