Alexander is a name of Greek origin, derived from the Greek word "alexein," which means "to defend" or "to protect." The second part of the name, "ander," comes from the Greek word "aner," meaning "man."
The name Alexander was popularized by Alexander the Great, the ancient Macedonian king who conquered much of the known world in the fourth century BCE. He was known for his military prowess and strategic brilliance, and his legacy has endured throughout history.
In terms of its popularity, Alexander has been a favored name for centuries. It has consistently ranked among the top 100 baby names in several English-speaking countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Throughout history, many notable figures have borne the name Alexander. Some of the most famous include Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States; Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone; and Alexander McQueen, a renowned British fashion designer.
In literature and popular culture, Alexander has been used as a character name in numerous works, such as "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day," a children's book by Judith Viorst, and "The Alexander Quartet," a classical music ensemble based in San Francisco.
"Alesander had notable spikes in popularity with 5 births each in 1985 and 2002, followed by 6 births in both 2006 and 2009, summing up to a total of 22 births over the years."