The name Alexis or Alexios comes from the Greek alexis, from alexein meaning "to ward off, keep, protect." Other variations include Alexius, Aleksi, Alexis, Alexei, Alexey, and Alexy.
There are several saints with this name:
- St. Alexios, Archbishop of Cyprus
- St. Alexis, Archbishop of Moscow (February 12 and October 5)
- St. Alexios the Man of God (March 17)
- St. Alexios the hermit of the Kiev Caves (April 24)
- St. Alexios, Bishop of Bithynia (June 10)
- St. Alexius, martyr of Constantinople (August 9)
- Alexis (Toth) of Wilkes-Barre (May 7)
- Alexis (Kabaliuk) of Carpathia (October 21 and December 2)
There are also hierarchs with this name:
- Alexis van der Mensbrugghe (1899-1980)
Current hierarchs:
- His Holiness Patriarch Alexei II (Ridiger) of Moscow (b. 1929)