alexander

Alexander is a masculine given name of Greek origin. It derives from the Greek Alexandros, formed from alexein, meaning “to defend,” and aner/andros, meaning “man.” The name is commonly interpreted as “defender of men” and has been widely adopted across Europe and the Americas. Variants include Alexandre (French), Alessandro (Italian), Alejandro (Spanish), Aleksandar (South Slavic), and the feminine form Alexandra. Nicknames such as Alex or Alexa are commonly used.

Notable bearers span ancient to modern times. Alexander the Great (356–323 BCE) was the king of Macedon whose conquests expanded Greek culture and established a vast Hellenistic world. In the Russian imperial era, Alexander I (1777–1825) played a role in the Napoleonic era, and Alexander II (1818–1881) is known for emancipating the serfs. In other fields, Alexander Fleming (1881–1955) discovered penicillin, transforming medicine, and Alexander Graham Bell (1847–1922) contributed to the development of the telephone. In literature and the arts, Alexander Pope (1688–1744) was a prominent English poet, and Alexander Calder (1898–1976) was an influential American sculptor known for mobiles.

The name is widely used in many languages and cultures, and it appears in geography, institutions, and various historical and contemporary contexts. The feminine form Alexandra is common, and Alex or Alexa often serves as a diminutive.