UK boy's name
Aleksej
A masculine Russian variant of the name Alexander, meaning "defender of men".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Aleksej is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Aleksej popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 4 births.
This profile covers 13 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2015 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 13 living people in the UK are called Aleksej. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Aleksej ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 4 boys were registered as Aleksej.
- • About 13 living people in the UK are estimated to have Aleksej as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2016
4 births
Estimated living
13
2026
Meaning
What does Aleksej mean?
The name Aleksej has its origins in the Greek language and culture, and can be traced back to the ancient name Alexandros, which was derived from the Greek words "alekso" meaning "to defend" and "andros" meaning "man". The name Aleksandr was commonly used in the Byzantine Empire and later adopted by the Slavic cultures, eventually evolving into the Russian form Aleksej.
In the 4th century AD, one of the earliest recorded examples of the name Aleksej can be found in the writings of the Greek historian Procopius, who mentioned a Byzantine military commander named Aleksej. During the Middle Ages, the name gained popularity among the nobility and ruling classes of Eastern Europe, particularly in Russia and Ukraine.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Aleksej was Aleksej Mikhailovich, who ruled as Tsar of Russia from 1645 to 1676. He played a significant role in the expansion of the Russian Empire and the consolidation of its power. Another prominent individual was Aleksej Petrovich Romanov, the son of Peter the Great, who was heir apparent to the Russian throne but was forced to renounce his claim due to conflicts with his father.
In the 19th century, the name Aleksej was associated with several influential writers and intellectuals. Aleksej Konstantinovich Tolstoy (1817-1875) was a renowned Russian poet and playwright, known for his satirical works and historical dramas. Aleksej Nikolayevich Apukhtin (1840-1893) was a celebrated Russian lyric poet and translator, whose works were highly regarded during his time.
In the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals with the name Aleksej was Aleksej Nikolayevich Kosygin (1904-1980), a Soviet statesman who served as the Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1980. He played a pivotal role in the economic reforms and modernization efforts of the Soviet Union during the latter half of the Cold War era.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Aleksej, showcasing its enduring presence and significance across various cultures and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Aleksej over time
The chart below shows babies named Aleksej registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2015 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Aleksej, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Aleksej by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Aleksej was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4789 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4385 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Aleksej
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Aleksej: questions and answers
How popular is the name Aleksej in the UK right now?
In 2022, Aleksej was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Aleksej most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 4 babies registered as Aleksej in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Aleksej?
A masculine Russian variant of the name Alexander, meaning "defender of men".
How many people are called Aleksej in the UK?
A total of 13 babies have been registered as Aleksej across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.