Alex en · PROPN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈæl.ɪks/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈæl.ɪks/ (Australia, Canada, General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈæl.əks/ (Australia, Canada, General-American)
Etymology
Clipping of Alexander, from Ancient Greek Ἀλέξανδρος (Aléxandros) 'he who wards off men', i.e. protector, possibly of Hittite origin. Also from Alexius, from the same Ancient Greek first element, "helping, defending". These two origins of Alex are indistinguishable in most languages. The female name has the same root, a clipping of Alexandra or the female name Alexis, in some cases also a spelling variant of Alix.
Meanings
-
A unisex given name from Ancient Greek.
Martin was pretty dull as names went but 'Alex Blake' had a certain dash to it. His publishers hadn't considered Martin's own name to be 'punchy' enough. The pseudonym Alex Blake was chosen after much deliberation, most of which excluded Martin. 'A strong, no-nonsense sort of name', his editor said, 'to compensate'. For what, she didn't say.
2006, Kate Atkinson, One Good Turn, Black Swan, published 2007, →ISBN, page 81:CEO and cofounder Alex Karp distanced Palantir from other Silicon Valley technology companies in a letter included in the filing, writing that “we seem to share fewer and fewer of the technology sector’s values and commitments.”
2020 August 25, Sara Ashley O'Brien and Rachel Metz, “Palantir files paperwork to go public and reveals it has never turned a profit”, in CNN Business:'I had a Christmas card from someone calling herself Alex the year before last,' Daniel said. 'I couldn't think who it was.' 'Oh, yes, she's changed again,' Alice said. 'I never got used to Alexandra, either. It never occurred to me that Sandra was short for Alexandra - anyway, she's Sandra on her birth certificate.'
2008, Philip Hensher, The Northern Clemency, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 588:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexes | Number=Plur | lexicographic |