The Baby Name Wizard

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Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Alec!

Comments and insights on the name Alec: | Edit

Hello! I have an almost 5 year old son named Alexander, and we call him Alec for short. I am American, my husband is Scottish, and we live in Scotland - Alexander is a great old scottish name. Im wondering how the nickname "Alec" is viewed both in America and the UK - what images does it conjure up? I toyed with using the nick name Alex, or Xander, but decided Alec was the name for him!

Thanks for any comments -

Zaidagal

Personal experiences with the name Alec: | Edit

It's a great name, but expect your child to be called "Alex" a lot.

My son (Alec) is now 12 and actually thought his name was Alex for a couple years and that I was mistaken! My son has never met another Alec and the girls love his name! It does get annoying having to spell his name whenever someone asks what his name is though.... 'Oh, Alex, hi Alex, how are you?" It's Alec, A-L-E-C, like Alec Baldwin, "oh, Alec, ok" Then 10 minutes later that same person is calling him Alex! He just ignores it but it bugs me still! I love the name and he does as well. Considering I was planning to name him "Danger Grant", he is pretty thankful for any other name!

Nicknames for Alec: | Edit

When they tease him it turns into "Alice" and teachers and adults tend to use the "smart Aleck" thing alot. My son thought they were telling him not to be smart (don't be a smart Alec"), seriously, how would he know what that meant in elementary school..I tried to explain but...well, try that some time with a 5 or 6 year old kid!

Meanings and history of the name Alec: | Edit

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Famous real-life people named Alec: | Edit

Alec Baldwin actor; Sir Alec Guinness, actor

Alec in song, story & screen: | Edit

Alec is the name of the main boy character in the movie "The Black Stallion"

"Alec Forbes" is a delightful book written by George Macdonald, and the name of the main character.

Alec Hardison, hacker character from TV show Leverage

Alec Trevelyan, antagonist of 1995 Bond film Goldeneye