Alexei

Alexei is a male given name common in Russia and other Slavic-speaking regions. It is derived from the Greek name Alexis, traditionally interpreted as meaning defender or helper. The name has many transliterations, including Alexei, Aleksei, Aleksey, and Alexey, and is written in Russian as Алексей and in Ukrainian as Oleksiy. Variants across languages include Oleksiy, Oleksii, and Aleksij. Diminutives and endearments include Alyosha, Lyosha, Lesha, and Alyoshka, used affectionately in Russian speech. The name has been borne by rulers, scholars, and public figures, and it remains popular in the modern era as a conventional given name in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and other parts of Eastern Europe, with numerous people named Alexei in sports, arts, and politics.

Notable individuals named Alexei include Alexei Navalny (born 1976), Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption activist; Alexei Kudrin (born 1956), Russian economist and former finance minister; Alexei Nikolaevich Romanov (1904–1918), heir to the Russian throne; Alexei Sayle (born 1952), British comedian and actor; and Alexei Abrikosov (1928–2017), physicist and Nobel laureate. The name’s cultural presence spans literature, science, and public life, reflecting its broad use across generations and nations. Variants and transliterations continue to appear in English-language media and in local forms across Eastern Europe.