Alexander is a name of Greek origin, derived from the Greek word 'Alexandros'. The name is composed of two elements: 'alexein' which means "to defend" or "to ward off", and 'aner' meaning "man". Thus, Alexander literally translates to "defender of mankind".
The name Alexandro is a variation of Alexander, with a Spanish spelling. It is also used in some Latin American countries.
Historically, the most famous bearer of the name Alexander was Alexander the Great (356-323 BC), the king of Macedon who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Due to his achievements and influence, the name has been popular throughout history and continues to be so today.
In literature and arts, the name Alexander has been used in many notable works such as "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by Judith Viorst, and "Caucasian Chalk Circle" by Bertolt Brecht. Additionally, there have been several famous people named Alexander throughout history including philosophers like Alexander Hamilton and artists like Alexander McQueen.
Today, Alexander is still a popular name worldwide, with its variations such as Alexandro, Sasha, Xander, Alec, Alex among others. It's often chosen for its strong historical connotations and timeless appeal.
The name Alexandro experienced a significant rise in popularity over the century, with births peaking in the late 1960s to early 1970s and again in the mid-1990s to early 2000s. However, there has been a notable decline in recent years, with fewer than 100 births per year since 2015. Overall, Alexandro has been a relatively uncommon name, with only around 6889 recorded births over the entire period provided.