Meaning and origin of Alexander

The boy's name Alexander \a-lexa-nder, alex(an)-der\ is pronounced al-ek-ZAN-der. It is of Greek origin, and its meaning is "man's defender, warrior". From the Latin form of the Greek name Alexandros. The name was probably coined originally as a title of the goddess Hera, consort of Zeus. Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) conquered and ruled the greater part of the known world before his death at the age of 33. History describes him as a man of high physical courage, impulsive energy, and fervid imagination. It was a royal name in Scotland. Alec and Zander are modern offshoots. Sandy is a Scottish pet form; Alessandro is an Italian form; Alexandre and Alixandre are French. See also Lexer. English poet Alexander Pope; US statesman Alexander Hamilton; actors Sir Alec Guinness, Alec Baldwin; US Secretary of State Alexander Haig; Soviet writer and dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn; writer Alexandre Dumas.

Alexander has 70 variant forms: Al, Alasdair, Alastair, Alaster, Alaxander, Alcander, Alcinder, Alcindor, Alec, Aleco, Alejandro, Alejo, Alek, Aleko, Aleksandar, Aleksander, Aleksandr, Aleksanteri, Alesandro, Alessandre, Alessandri, Alessandro, Alex, Alexan, Alexandre, Alexandro, Alexandros, Alexei, Alexi, Alexio, Alexis, Alic, Alicio, Alick, Alik, Alisander, Alissander, Alissandre, Alistair, Alister, Alistir, Alix, Alixandre, Allie, Allistair, Allister, Allistir, Alsandare, Alyksandr, Iskander, Iskender, Lex, Lexo, Sacha, Sander, Sandero, Sandor, Sandro, Sandros, Sandie, Sandy, Sascha, Sasha, Saunder, Saunders, Sikander, Xander, Zander, Zandro and Zandros.

For more information, see also related names Isandro, Macallister, Olexei, Shura and Zindel.

Baby names that sound like Alexander are Alexey, Alexy, Alexus, Alexius, Alexios, Aleksei and Olexey.

Alexander is a very popular male first name and a very popular surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census).
-www.thinkbabynames.com