How to say it
al · ig · ZAN · der
ˌæl.ɪɡˈzæn.dɚ
Masculine
Alexander
Defender of people
What it means
Greek, from Alexandros. The roots are alexein (to defend, to ward off) and anēr / andros (man, person). One who stands in front.
Alexander the Great carried the name out of Macedonia in the 4th century BCE and into every territory he conquered. He left cities, libraries, and a name that traveled further than the empire did. Christian saints, Russian tsars, popes, and countless royal cradles kept it in active circulation across two millennia. It has held the US top thirty for boys for most of the past century without ever feeling tired. Strongest in its full form, also lived as Alex, Xander, Sasha, and Sandy.
How to spell Alexander
The standard spelling is Alexander. Common variants include Alexandre, Aleksandr, Alessandro, Alejandro, Sasha, but Alexander is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #4 in 2009, currently #30 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Half a dozen short forms in regular use: Alex, Xander, Alec, Lex, Sandy, and Sasha in Russian-influenced families.
- Pop culture
Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton made the full Alexander fashionable again after a generation of mostly Alex.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Alexander the Great Macedonian king and conqueror, 4th century BC
- Alexander Hamilton US founding father, the musical and the $10 bill
- Alexander Graham Bell Inventor credited with the telephone
- Alexander Skarsgård Swedish actor, Big Little Lies and True Blood
Spelling variants
- Alexandre
- Aleksandr
- Alessandro
- Alejandro
- Sasha
Names with the same feeling
See Alexander from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Alexander mean?
- Greek, from Alexandros. The roots are alexein (to defend, to ward off) and anēr / andros (man, person). One who stands in front.
- What does Alexander mean in Greek?
- In Greek, Alexander means "Defender of people." Alexander the Great carried the name out of Macedonia in the 4th century BCE and into every territory he conquered. He left cities, libraries, and a name that traveled further than the empire did. Christian saints, Russian tsars, popes, and countless royal cradles kept it in active circulation across two millennia. It has held the US top thirty for boys for most of the past century without ever feeling tired. Strongest in its full form, also lived as Alex, Xander, Sasha, and Sandy.
- How do you pronounce Alexander?
- Alexander is pronounced ˌæl.ɪɡˈzæn.dɚ. Say it as al-ig-ZAN-der, with the stress on the "zan" syllable.
- How do you spell Alexander?
- The standard spelling is Alexander. Common spelling variants include Alexandre, Aleksandr, Alessandro, Alejandro, Sasha.
- Is Alexander a boy or girl name?
- Alexander is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Alexander?
- Alexander ranked #30 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.