NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Lex

Of Greek origin, shortened form of Alexander meaning "defender of men.".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Lex is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Lex popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1758, with 14 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 25 births.

This profile covers 398 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1999 to 2024. 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 56% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 424 living people in the UK are called Lex. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Lex ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 14 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2008, when 25 boys were registered as Lex.
  • Lex ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #728 in 2023.
  • About 424 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lex as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1758

2024

Births in 2024

14

Latest year

Peak year

2008

25 births

Estimated living

424

2026

Meaning

What does Lex mean?

The name Lex has its origins in the Latin language, where it was derived from the word "lex," meaning "law" or "statute." This name has a rich history dating back to ancient Roman times.

In ancient Rome, the term "lex" referred to the legal codes and laws established by various rulers and governing bodies. It was a significant concept in Roman society, as the rule of law was highly valued and formed the foundation of the Roman legal system.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lex can be found in the writings of ancient Roman historians and scholars. For example, the Roman statesman and philosopher Cicero often referred to the concept of "lex" in his works, emphasizing its importance in maintaining order and justice within the Roman Republic.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Lex. One of the most famous was Lex Luthor, the iconic villain from the Superman comic book series, who first appeared in Action Comics #23 in 1940. Lex Luthor's character embodied a brilliant but misguided mind, often seeking to challenge the authority and power represented by the heroic Superman.

Another prominent figure named Lex was Lex Barker, an American actor born in 1919 and known for his roles in adventure films and westerns in the 1940s and 1950s. He was particularly famous for portraying the character of Tarzan in several films during that era.

In the world of literature, Lex Berman was an American author and journalist born in 1925. He gained recognition for his critically acclaimed novels, including "The Dastard" and "The Turkish Pasha," which explored themes of adventure and intrigue.

The name Lex has also been associated with notable figures in the field of sports. Lex Luger, born in 1958, was a professional wrestler who achieved fame in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) during the 1990s, known for his impressive physique and charismatic persona.

Another individual with the name Lex was Lex Frieden, an American disability rights advocate born in 1950. He played a crucial role in the drafting and implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Lex over time

The chart below shows babies named Lex registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Lex, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 14 births in 2024, compared with 25 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Lex
06131925199920112024

Decades

Lex by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lex 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 #1698 72 5
2010s #1469 175 10
2000s #1280 145 9
1990s #1850 6 1

Geography

Where Lex is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Lex. 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.

Lex ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #728 in 2023.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Lex in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#728 in 2023

8 years of NRS records, 29 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Lex

  • Lex Shrapnel

    actor; television actor

    British actor

    1979-

  • Lex Lamprey

    actor; film producer

    British actor

    1975-

  • Lex Baillie

    association football coach; association football player

    Scottish footballer (born 1966)

    1966-

  • Lex Richardson

    association football coach; association football player

    Scottish footballer and manager (born 1955)

    1955-

  • Lex Donaldson

    university teacher; sociologist

    British-Australian organizational sociologist

    1947-

  • Lex Gold

    businessperson; association football coach; association football player

    Scottish footballer (born 1940)

    1940-

  • Lex McLean

    comedian; television actor

    British actor

    1908-1975

  • Lex Kristan

    candidate in the 2024 United Kingdom general election

Related

Names similar to Lex

FAQ

Lex: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Lex was ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales, with 14 births registered.

When was Lex most popular?

The peak year on record was 2008, with 25 babies registered as Lex in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Lex?

Of Greek origin, shortened form of Alexander meaning "defender of men.".

How many people are called Lex in the UK?

A total of 398 babies have been registered as Lex across the 25 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 29 more in Scotland.

Where is Lex most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Lex ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #728 in 2023. 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.