Alexi is of Greek origin and means "defender of mankind". It is often considered a unisex name, with variations used for both boys and girls such as Alexis and Alexia. The name gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century, peaking in usage around 1970 before declining slightly in recent years. Notable individuals named Alexi include Russian chess grandmaster Alexei Shirov and French soccer player Alexi Lalas.
"Alexi saw a significant spike in popularity between the late 80s and mid-90s, peaking at 196 births in 2002. However, it has since declined steadily, with only 35 births recorded in 2023."