Originating from Scottish and Gaelic roots, Alec is an abbreviation of Alexander, meaning 'defender of mankind.' It gained popularity as a given name in its own right during the 20th century. In literature, Alec Guinness, known for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in 'Star Wars,' brought this name to wider recognition.
The name Alec saw a significant rise in popularity from 1984 to its peak in 1995, with a notable drop after the late 90s.