Alexei is a name of Russian origin and means "defender" or "protector". It has been used in Russia since the Middle Ages and was popularized by the Romanov dynasty, with Tsar Alexei I being one of its most notable bearers. The name has also been associated with several saints in the Orthodox Church.
The name Alexei is composed of two elements: "Alex" which means "defender" or "helper", and "-ei" which is a diminutive suffix. It is believed to have originated from the Greek name Alexander, which was introduced into Russia through Byzantine influence.
Throughout history, several prominent figures have borne the name Alexei. Besides Tsar Alexei I, other notable individuals include Alexei Navalny, a Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption activist, and Alexei Nemov, a retired Russian gymnast who won six Olympic medals.
In terms of its usage, Alexei has been consistently popular in Russia throughout history, although its popularity has varied over time. In recent years, it has experienced a resurgence in popularity among new parents choosing names for their children.
Here are some interesting statistics about the name Alexee in the United States from 1996 to 2007:
In this ten-year period, a total of 87 babies were named Alexee.
The year with the highest number of births was 2002, with 11 newborns named Alexee. This represents the peak popularity of this name during the decade.
On the other hand, the years with the lowest number of births were 1996 and 2005, each with only 5 babies named Alexee.
The most consistent years in terms of popularity were from 1997 to 2001, where the birth count fluctuated between 6 and 8 each year.
From 2003 onwards, there was a slight increase in the number of births for this name, with counts ranging from 5 to 10 per year.