The name Alec has its origins in the ancient Greek language, deriving from the name Alexandros, which means "defender of men" or "protector of men." This name was borne by Alexander the Great, the legendary Macedonian king and military commander who lived from 356 BCE to 323 BCE and conquered vast territories stretching from Greece to India.

The name Alexandros was later Latinized as Alexander, and its shortened form, Alec, emerged in medieval Scotland and England as a diminutive or nickname. In these regions, the name was often spelled as Alec, Aleck, or Alek, reflecting the local linguistic variations.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Alec can be found in the 13th century, with Alec Dunbar, a Scottish nobleman and crusader who participated in the Ninth Crusade in the late 1200s. Another notable figure from this era was Alec Stewart, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence in the early 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with Alec Hay, a Scottish poet and clergyman who served as the secretary to King James VI of Scotland and I of England. Around the same time, Alec Fyfe, a Scottish merchant and explorer, embarked on voyages to the Arctic regions and contributed to the expansion of trade routes.

The 19th century saw the birth of Alec Guinness, the renowned English actor who portrayed iconic roles such as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars films. He was born in 1914 and passed away in 2000. Another notable figure was Alec Douglas-Home, a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1963 to 1964.

In the 20th century, Alec Issigonis, a British-Greek designer, gained recognition for his innovative work on the Mini, a revolutionary small car that became an icon of British automotive design. He lived from 1906 to 1988.

More recently, the name has been associated with individuals like Alec Baldwin, the American actor known for his roles in films such as "The Departed" and "30 Rock," and Alec Stewart, the English cricketer who played for the national team and captained them in the late 1990s and early 2000s.