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Alexander

/al-ig-ZAN-dər/

Alexander is a boy name of Greek origin, meaning Defender of men.

  • GenderBoy
  • OriginGreek
  • StyleClassic
  • Syllables4
  • US rank#10

What does Alexander mean?

Defender of men

From the Greek Alexandros, combining alexein ("to defend") and aner, andros ("man"). The name is attested in Mycenaean Greek from the Bronze Age, making it one of the oldest names still in everyday use.

The story behind the name

Alexander III of Macedon conquered from Greece to the Indus before he was thirty-three, and in doing so scattered his name across three continents. Iskandar in Persian and Arabic, Sikandar in Urdu and Hindi, Eskender in Amharic - all are his.

The name entered Britain through Scotland, where three medieval kings bore it, and it has been a Scottish staple ever since. In Russia it produced Aleksandr and the pet form Sasha.

Alexander has been in the American top thirty for over forty years, and it is one of the very few names that is simultaneously common in Greece, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Britain and the United States.

Notable people named Alexander

  • Alexander the Great
  • Alexander Hamilton, US founding father
  • Alexander Fleming, discoverer of penicillin
  • Alexander Pushkin, poet

How popular is Alexander?

Popularity in the United States

Alexander has been given to 699,315 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 1990s. It has held a steady level of use since.

About 1 in 162 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.

010,35220,703188019502020
Babies named Alexander per year in the United States, 1880–2020. Source: Social Security Administration

Popularity in France

Alexander has been given to 2,509 babies in France since 1925, peaking in the 1990s. It has held a steady level of use since.

04385192519732022
Babies named Alexander per year in France, 1925–2022. Source: INSEE

Popularity in Spain

There are 15,570 people called Alexander living in Spain, with an average age of 29.3.

699,315 Babies named since 1880
1990s Peak decade
Steady Recent trend

Variants and related names

Other spellings: Aleksander, Alessandro, Alejandro, Alexandre, Iskandar

Related names: Alexandra, Sasha, Alex, Alessandro, Xander

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Frequently asked questions about Alexander

What does the name Alexander mean?

Alexander means Defender of men. It is of Greek origin.

Is Alexander a boy's or a girl's name?

Alexander is most often given to boys.

How do you pronounce Alexander?

Alexander is pronounced al-ig-ZAN-dər.

How popular is the name Alexander?

Alexander has been given to 699,315 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 1990s. It has held a steady level of use since.

What are other spellings of Alexander?

Common variants include Aleksander, Alessandro, Alejandro, Alexandre, Iskandar.