Alexander is a masculine given name of Greek origin, derived from the word "alexein," which means "to defend" or "to ward off." It is also associated with the Greek god Alexander, who was said to protect against illness and misfortune.
The name Alexander gained popularity during the Hellenistic period following the conquests of Alexander the Great, a Macedonian king who established one of the largest empires in ancient history. This historic figure had a significant impact on the spread of the name throughout Europe and Asia.
In various languages, Alexander has different forms and equivalents. In Greek, it is Alexandros, while in Latin, it is Alexanderius. Other variations include Sasha in Russian, Alejandro in Spanish, Alessandro in Italian, Alexandre in French, and Aleksandrs in Latvian.
Alexander has been used as a given name for centuries and continues to be popular today. Some notable individuals who have borne this name include Alexander the Great himself, several Roman emperors, various saints, and numerous monarchs throughout history. Additionally, Alexander has inspired many works of art and literature, such as "Alexander Pushkin" by Vladimir Nabokov and "The Alexander Quartet," a string quartet based in San Francisco.
In terms of popularity, Alexander has consistently ranked among the most popular boys' names in various countries over time. In the United States, for example, it was one of the top 100 names for boys from the 1920s to the 1980s and has since regained popularity, ranking at number 74 in 2020.
In summary, Alexander is a prominent given name with roots tracing back to ancient Greece. Its meaning, "to defend" or "to ward off," reflects its association with protection and strength. Throughout history, numerous notable figures have carried this name, contributing to its enduring popularity across different cultures and languages.
The name Alexander experienced a significant rise in popularity from the late 1960s onwards, with a marked increase in births starting around 1973 (31 births). This trend continued into the early 1980s, reaching its peak in 1988 with 331 births. However, since then, there has been a steady decline in the number of babies named Alexander each year, dropping to just 10 births in both 2022 and 2023. Overall, between 1909 and 2023, there were a total of 4520 births with the name Alexander.