The name Alexander is the Latin version of the Greek boy’s name, Alexandros. The meaning of Alexander is derived from the two Greek words alexo and ander.
What does the name Alexander mean? Alexo means I defend and ander means men; the Latin name as a whole means defender of men.
The name Alexandros dates back further than the 4th century BCE and the Latinized version has been around for centuries too. Alexander is a popular name in Greek history but is also used frequently throughout the bible’s New Testament.
Alexander is a popular boys’ name and can be shortened in several ways. If you want a cute nickname for your baby, common abbreviations of Alexander include Alex, Xander, and Al.
- Alexander Name Origin: Latin
- Alexander Meaning: Defender of man
- Pronunciation: Ah – Lex – Zan – Der
- Gender: Male
How Popular is the Name Alexander?
At the beginning of the 20th century, Alexander ranked at number 93 in the list of popular boys’ names in the US. Over the years, this strong name has fluctuated in popularity but has not once fallen out of the top 250 boys’ names.
According to Social Security Administration data, Alexander first entered the top 10 in 2008 – reaching number 6 in the chart. Alexander reached its peak position in 2009 at number 4 and had only fallen slightly to number 13 in 2021. This ancient name has stood the test of time and 9344 baby boys were named Alexander in 2021.
Variations of the Name Alexander
Alexander may not be the name for you, but there are several variations of this popular boys’ name for you to try.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Alexandros | Protector/ defender of man | Greek |
| Alexei | Defender | Russian |
| Alasdair | Defender of man | Gaelic |
| Alejandro | Defender of the people | Spanish |
| Alastair | Man’s defender | Scottish |
| Aleksander | Warrior of the people | Polish |
Other Amazing Latin Boys’ Names
If you like the name Alexander, you may also want to consider one of these other adorable Latin boys’ names.
| Name | Meaning |
| Benjamin | Son of the right hand |
| Lucas | One who gives light |
| Mateo | He was the gift of God |
| Acklea | One who dwells near oak trees |
| Adrian | Seo or water |
| Cyrus | Far seeing young individual |
| Daxx | The one who is at peace |
Alternative Boys Names Starting with ‘A’
Perhaps you really want to give your baby a name that starts with ‘A’, why not try one of these?
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Aaron | Strong / Exalted | Hebrew |
| Asher | Happy / Blessed | Hebrew |
| Aj | Unconquerable | Sanskrit |
| Aed | Fire | Irish |
| Akira | Clear / Light | Japanese |
| Alan | Little rock | English |
| Archie | Archer / Truly bold | German |
Famous People Named Alexander
The name Alexander has been around for thousands of years and continues to be a popular choice for baby boys today. During the many years that this Latin name has existed, several famous people have been called Alexander. Here is a list of the most well known Alexanders in history:
- Alexander the Great – King of Macedon.
- Alexander McQueen – British fashion designer.
- Alexander Hamilton – American founding father and statesman.
- Alexander Pope – English poet.
- Pope Alexander VI – Head of the Catholic Church from 1492 – 1503.
- Alexander Skarsgard – Swedish actor.