The name Alessandra is of Italian origin and means "defender". It is derived from the masculine Italian name Alessandro, which in turn comes from the Greek name Alexandros. The name has a rich history and has been associated with several notable figures throughout history.
Alessandra was a popular name among Italian nobility during the Middle Ages, and it was often bestowed upon daughters of prominent families to honor their male counterparts who bore the name Alessandro. One famous historical figure named Alessandra was Alessandra Giliani, an Italian noblewoman who lived in the 13th century and was known for her intelligence and political acumen.
The name Alessandra also has literary associations. It is the title character of the novel "Alessandro" by the Italian author Luigi Capuana, which tells the story of a young woman who struggles to find her place in society. Additionally, the name has been used by several authors as a pen name, including the French writer Colette and the American poet Alice B. Toklas.
Today, Alessandra is still a popular name in Italy and other countries with Italian-speaking populations, such as Switzerland and Argentina. It has also gained popularity internationally in recent years, particularly in English-speaking countries like the United States and Canada. While it may not be as well-known as some other Italian names, such as Sofia or Isabella, Alessandra remains a distinctive and elegant choice for parents looking to name their daughter with an Italian-inspired moniker.
In conclusion, the name Alessandra is of Italian origin and means "defender". It has a rich history that spans centuries and includes notable figures like Alessandra Giliani. Today, it is still a popular name in Italy and other countries with Italian-speaking populations, as well as internationally. Its elegant sound and distinctive spelling make it a standout choice for parents looking to give their daughter an Italian-inspired name.
The given statistics provide an interesting snapshot of the popularity of the name Alessandra in the United States over a span of nearly eight decades, from 1943 to 2023.
From 1943 to 1975, the number of births with the name Alessandra remained relatively low and quite inconsistent, ranging from a single birth in some years to a maximum of 36 births in 1974. This period can be considered as the time when the name Alessandra was not particularly popular among parents choosing names for their newborn daughters.
However, starting from 1976, we see a noticeable increase in the popularity of the name Alessandra. The number of births with this name began to steadily climb, reaching 46 births in 1979 and peaking at 237 births in 1990. This period marked the beginning of Alessandra's rise in popularity as a baby girl's name.
The years from 1990 onwards saw a continued increase in the number of girls named Alessandra, with peaks reaching over 1000 births per year between 2012 and 2015. The highest recorded number of births with the name Alessandra during this period was 1141 in 2015.
It's worth noting that even after its peak popularity, the name Alessandra has maintained a significant level of popularity among parents. For instance, there were still 821 girls named Alessandra born in 2022, which is more than six times the number of births recorded in any year between 1943 and 1975.
In total, according to these statistics, there have been 23,412 babies born with the name Alessandra in the United States from 1943 to 2023. These figures demonstrate a clear trend of increasing popularity for the name over time, with a particularly notable surge starting in the late 1970s and continuing until the present day.
This information can be useful for parents-to-be looking for inspiration when choosing a baby girl's name, as it provides insight into the current trends and historic popularity of the name Alessandra. Additionally, these statistics can serve as an interesting point of reference for those curious about how naming patterns have changed over time in the United States.