Alexandru is a name of Romanian origin, derived from the Greek name Alexander. The name Alexander is composed of two elements: "alexo," which means "to defend" or "to protect," and "aner," meaning "man." Therefore, Alexandru translates to "defender of mankind."
The name Alexandru has a rich history dating back to ancient Greece. It was popularized by Alexander the Great, who conquered much of the known world in the 4th century BC. After his death, the name Alexander became widespread throughout Europe and Asia.
In Romania, Alexandru is one of the most common names, ranking among the top ten male names for many years. Its popularity can be attributed to its historical significance and strong meanings. The name has also gained international recognition due to famous individuals bearing this name, such as Alexandru cel Bun ("Alexandre le Bon"), a 15th-century prince who ruled Moldavia.
Despite its popularity in Romania, Alexandru remains relatively uncommon in other countries, making it a unique yet meaningful choice for parents looking for a distinctive name with deep historical roots.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Alexandru has seen a significant increase in popularity among parents in the United States over the past four decades.
The first recorded birth of a child named Alexandru occurred in 1981, with five such births that year. The number of babies named Alexandru remained relatively low for several years, fluctuating between five and eight births annually from 1981 to 1997.
However, starting in 1997, the popularity of the name Alexandru began to rise sharply. That year saw a total of ten births, which nearly doubled to seventeen births in 1998. This upward trend continued throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, with the highest number of births recorded in 2006 at thirty-four.
The popularity of the name Alexandru peaked in the mid-2000s, with a total of 34 births in 2006 and 33 births in 2007. Since then, the number of babies named Alexandru has fluctuated but remained relatively stable, with between twenty to thirty-three births per year from 2008 to 2014.
More recently, the popularity of the name Alexandru has shown signs of decreasing once again. Between 2015 and 2023, the number of babies named Alexandru has ranged from eight to twenty-one births per year.
Overall, based on the provided statistics, it appears that the name Alexandru has had a notable presence in the United States over the past four decades, with its popularity peaking in the mid-2000s.