NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Alyx

A feminine name derived from Alexandria, meaning "defender of mankind".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Alyx is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Alyx popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3961, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 24 births.

This profile covers 197 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 1996 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 21% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 310 living people in the UK are called Alyx. 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 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Alyx ranked #3961 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 24 girls were registered as Alyx.
  • Alyx ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #806 in 2015.
  • About 310 living people in the UK are estimated to have Alyx as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 96.6% of Alyx registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3961

2021

Births in 2021

5

Latest year

Peak year

1997

24 births

Estimated living

310

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Alyx

In England and Wales birth records, Alyx has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 3.4% of registrations are for boys and 96.6% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

97% girls
Boys7 (3.4%)Girls197 (96.6%)

Alyx registered for boys

  • Ranked #2,857 in 2003
  • 4 boys registered in 2003
  • Peak: 2003 (4 births)

Alyx registered for girls

  • Ranked #3,961 in 2021
  • 5 girls registered in 2021
  • Peak: 1997 (24 births)

Meaning

What does Alyx mean?

The name Alyx originates from the Greek language and is derived from the word "alke," which means "strength" or "defense." It is believed to have first emerged around the 5th century BCE in ancient Greece.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alyx can be found in the works of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who mentioned an Athenian woman named Alyx in his writings. However, the name was not particularly common during this time period and was primarily used by families of higher social standing.

During the Byzantine Empire, which spanned from the 4th to the 15th century CE, the name Alyx gained some popularity, especially among the nobility and upper classes. It was often given to daughters as a symbol of strength and resilience.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Alyx. One of the earliest recorded was Alyx of Thessalonica, a Byzantine noblewoman and philanthropist who lived in the 11th century CE. She was known for her charitable works and her support of the Orthodox Church.

In the Middle Ages, Alyx de Montfort (1192-1235) was a French noblewoman and the wife of Simon de Montfort, a prominent leader during the Albigensian Crusade. She played an important role in the defense of the city of Toulouse during the siege of 1218.

During the Renaissance period, Alyx Clément (1510-1561) was a French poet and writer who was part of the literary circle known as the Pléiade. Her works were widely acclaimed and she was considered a pioneer of the French Renaissance literary movement.

In the 19th century, Alyx Nasmith (1837-1910) was a Scottish artist and painter known for her portraits and landscapes. She was a member of the Royal Scottish Academy and her works were exhibited at various prestigious galleries in Scotland and England.

Another notable figure was Alyx Trench (1925-2000), a British actress and dancer who performed in several West End productions and appeared in various films and television shows throughout her career.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Alyx over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Alyx in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Alyx, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2021, compared with 24 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
06121824199620082021

Decades

Alyx by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Alyx 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 #3402 13 2
2010s #5014 12 3
2000s #2607 103 10
1990s #1228 69 4

Geography

Where Alyx is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Alyx. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Alyx ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #806 in 2015.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Alyx in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#806 in 2015

19 years of NRS records, 115 total registered

Related

Names similar to Alyx

FAQ

Alyx: questions and answers

How popular is the name Alyx in the UK right now?

In 2021, Alyx was ranked #3961 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Alyx most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 24 babies registered as Alyx in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Alyx?

A feminine name derived from Alexandria, meaning "defender of mankind".

How many people are called Alyx in the UK?

A total of 197 babies have been registered as Alyx across the 19 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 115 more in Scotland.

Where is Alyx most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Alyx ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #806 in 2015. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.