Alexander Name Meaning

Helen Doanna

By Helen Doanna

Lastest Updated June 7, 2024
Home » Baby Names » Alexander Name Meaning

Fact: The name Alexander appears in numerous works of literature, including Shakespeare’s plays and the famous children’s book “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” by Judith Viorst.

Continue Reading…
A Deep Dive

Alexander Overview

Meaning

Defender or protector of man, warrior

Gender

Boy

Origin

Greek

Etymology

Derived from the Greek name “Alexandros,” meaning “defender of the people” or “protector of men.”

Religion

Christianity

Pronunciation

/ˌæl.ɪɡˈzæn.dər/

Popularity

Across the globe, especially in English-speaking countries, Alexander is a popular choice. In 2023, it has also made its mark as a top 20 name for boys in the USA.

Syllable

4 syllables

Length

9 letters

Numerology

3 (Expressive, Social, Artistic)

Name Styles

Classic, Vintage, Long, Cool, Cute

Associated Traits

Strong, intelligent, noble, leader

Spiritual, Religious, or Cultural Significance

Alexander the Great is a significant historical figure, and the name is associated with various saints and rulers throughout history.

Name Day

August 30th
A Deep Dive

Alexander Variations in Different Cultures

Popular Variations

Alejandro, Alexandros, Alessandro, Aleksandr, Alexandre, Sasha, Iskander, Alexios

Common Nicknames

Alex, Xander, Lex, Andy, Alec

Diminutives

Al, X, Lexi, Sandy, Zane

Famous People

  • Alexander the Great
    (King)
  • Alexander Hamilton
    (Statesman)
  • Alexander Graham Bell
    (Inventor)
  • Alexander McQueen
    (Fashion Designer)
  • Alexander SkarsgÃ¥rd
    (Actor)

Pop Culture Icons and Works

  • Alexander Hamilton
    ("Hamilton," Musical)
  • "Alexander"
    (Film)
  • Alexander Pierce
    ("Captain America: The Winter Soldier," Film)
  • Alexander Rozhenko
    ("Star Trek: The Next Generation," TV Series)

Places

  • Alexander City
    (Alabama, USA)
  • Alexander River
    (New Zealand)
  • Alexander Bay
    (Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada)
  • Alexander Island
    (Antarctica)
  • Alexander Valley
    (California, USA)

What Is the Meaning of Alexander?

Alexander means “defender or protector of man,” “warrior” in Greek. This name suggests a personality that is strong, protective, and reliable, often admired for leadership qualities and a sense of duty.

What Is the Origin of The Name Alexander?

Alexander has Greek origins. It is derived from the Greek name “Alexandros.” The name became famous due to Alexander the Great, the king of Macedonia, who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. It has been used widely in many cultures and languages ever since.

Alexander Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Alexander in the U.S. over the Years

United States flagUnited States#132021#172022#222023
Top 3 Rankings#42009#62008#62010

Annual Statistics Breakdown for Alexander

YearName RankingNumber of BirthsBirth Rate (%)
202322
(-5 from 2022)
7875
(-855 from 2022)
0.43006
202217
(-4 from 2021)
8730
(-678 from 2021)
0.46610
202113
(-3 from 2020)
9408
(-849 from 2020)
0.50213
202010
No change from 2019
10257
(-1059 from 2019)
0.55453
201910
(+1 from 2018)
11316
(-785 from 2018)
0.58883
201811
(+2 from 2017)
12101
(-469 from 2017)
0.62256
201713
(-2 from 2016)
12570
(-871 from 2016)
0.63513
201611
(-3 from 2015)
13441
(-1140 from 2015)
0.66355
20158
No change from 2014
14581
(-860 from 2014)
0.71320
20148
No change from 2013
15441
(+520 from 2013)
0.75351
20138
(+1 from 2012)
14921
(-329 from 2012)
0.73841
20129
(-1 from 2011)
15250
(-464 from 2011)
0.75154
20118
(-2 from 2010)
15714
(-1053 from 2010)
0.77355
20106
(-2 from 2009)
16767
(-1481 from 2009)
0.81615
20094
(+2 from 2008)
18248
(-460 from 2008)
0.86038
20086
(+5 from 2007)
18708
(+560 from 2007)
0.85800
200711
(+1 from 2006)
18148
(-86 from 2006)
0.81930
200612
(+1 from 2005)
18234
(+106 from 2005)
0.83170
200513
(+2 from 2004)
18128
(+203 from 2004)
0.85214
200415
(+1 from 2003)
17925
(+212 from 2003)
0.84818
200316
(-1 from 2002)
17713
(-5 from 2002)
0.84301
200215
(+5 from 2001)
17718
(+1001 from 2001)
0.85733
200120
No change from 2000
16717
(-573 from 2000)
0.80821
200020
(+1 from 1999)
17290
(-129 from 1999)
0.82794
199921
(+1 from 1998)
17419
(-47 from 1998)
0.85429
199822
No change from 1997
17466
(+354 from 1997)
0.86139
199722
No change from 1996
17112
(-852 from 1996)
0.85655
199622
(-1 from 1995)
17964
(-1487 from 1995)
0.89653
199521
(+1 from 1994)
19451
(-648 from 1994)
0.96705
199422
(-1 from 1993)
20099
(-430 from 1993)
0.98604
199321
(+2 from 1992)
20529
(+461 from 1992)
0.99389
199223
(+3 from 1991)
20068
(+2430 from 1991)
0.95600
199126
(+2 from 1990)
17638
(+1446 from 1990)
0.83210
199028
(+4 from 1989)
16192
(+1667 from 1989)
0.75241
198932
(+2 from 1988)
14525
(+1186 from 1988)
0.69299
198834
(+3 from 1987)
13339
(+1502 from 1987)
0.66619
198737
(+4 from 1986)
11837
(+1229 from 1986)
0.60696
198641
(+9 from 1985)
10608
(+2312 from 1985)
0.55201
198550
(+4 from 1984)
8296
(+1804 from 1984)
0.43109
198454
(+9 from 1983)
6492
(+1687 from 1983)
0.34593
198363
(+2 from 1982)
4805
(+214 from 1982)
0.25784
198265
(+5 from 1981)
4591
(+353 from 1981)
0.24327
198170
(+21 from 1980)
4238
(+958 from 1980)
0.22756
198091
(+3 from 1979)
3280
(+221 from 1979)
0.17684
197994
(+4 from 1978)
3059
(+319 from 1978)
0.17077
197898
(-2 from 1977)
2740
(+36 from 1977)
0.16036
197796
(+11 from 1976)
2704
(+260 from 1976)
0.15819
1976107
(-3 from 1975)
2444
(+3 from 1975)
0.14970
1975104
(+8 from 1974)
2441
(+85 from 1974)
0.15046
1974112
(+4 from 1973)
2356
(+97 from 1973)
0.14452
1973116
(+13 from 1972)
2259
(+141 from 1972)
0.13999
1972129
(+4 from 1971)
2118
(-243 from 1971)
0.12652
1971133
(+4 from 1970)
2361
(-102 from 1970)
0.12988
1970137
(+13 from 1969)
2463
(+448 from 1969)
0.12931
1969150
(+4 from 1968)
2015
(+242 from 1968)
0.11016
1968154
(+24 from 1967)
1773
(+317 from 1967)
0.09986
1967178
(+4 from 1966)
1456
(+86 from 1966)
0.08182
1966182
(+9 from 1965)
1370
(+49 from 1965)
0.07537
1965191
(+21 from 1964)
1321
(+30 from 1964)
0.06972
1964212
(+2 from 1963)
1291
(-18 from 1963)
0.06369
1963214
(+7 from 1962)
1309
(+90 from 1962)
0.06340
1962221
(+2 from 1961)
1219
(-8 from 1961)
0.05800
1961223
(+9 from 1960)
1227
(+28 from 1960)
0.05688
1960232
(+1 from 1959)
1199
(+36 from 1959)
0.05537
1959233
(-12 from 1958)
1163
(-24 from 1958)
0.05368
1958221
(-10 from 1957)
1187
(-77 from 1957)
0.05508
1957211
No change from 1956
1264
(+30 from 1956)
0.05775
1956211
(-3 from 1955)
1234
(+62 from 1955)
0.05750
1955208
(-8 from 1954)
1172
(-63 from 1954)
0.05607
1954200
(-5 from 1953)
1235
(-26 from 1953)
0.05969
1953195
(-9 from 1952)
1261
(-23 from 1952)
0.06298
1952186
(+4 from 1951)
1284
(+72 from 1951)
0.06507
1951190
(-1 from 1950)
1212
(+47 from 1950)
0.06340
1950189
(-9 from 1949)
1165
(-19 from 1949)
0.06405
1949180
(+3 from 1948)
1184
(+54 from 1948)
0.06570
1948183
(+7 from 1947)
1130
(+50 from 1947)
0.06339
1947190
(-2 from 1946)
1080
(+115 from 1946)
0.05814
1946188
(-10 from 1945)
965
(+74 from 1945)
0.05847
1945178
(+5 from 1944)
891
(+26 from 1944)
0.06497
1944183
(-5 from 1943)
865
(-60 from 1943)
0.06227
1943178
(+6 from 1942)
925
(+65 from 1942)
0.06359
1942184
No change from 1941
860
(+42 from 1941)
0.06107
1941184
(+4 from 1940)
818
(+58 from 1940)
0.06519
1940188
(-2 from 1939)
760
(+38 from 1939)
0.06407
1939186
(+7 from 1938)
722
(+56 from 1938)
0.06371
1938193
(-2 from 1937)
666
(-9 from 1937)
0.05860
1937191
(+9 from 1936)
675
(+62 from 1936)
0.06172
1936200
(-14 from 1935)
613
(-89 from 1935)
0.05760
1935186
(+14 from 1934)
702
(+86 from 1934)
0.06563
1934200
(-13 from 1933)
616
(-43 from 1933)
0.05801
1933187
(-9 from 1932)
659
(-115 from 1932)
0.06460
1932178
(-6 from 1931)
774
(-21 from 1931)
0.07204
1931172
(-4 from 1930)
795
(-77 from 1930)
0.07431
1930168
(-12 from 1929)
872
(-113 from 1929)
0.07720
1929156
(-4 from 1928)
985
(-62 from 1928)
0.08893
1928152
(-6 from 1927)
1047
(-46 from 1927)
0.09175
1927146
No change from 1926
1093
(-57 from 1926)
0.09407
1926146
(-9 from 1925)
1150
(-74 from 1925)
0.10040
1925137
(-8 from 1924)
1224
(-157 from 1924)
0.10630
1924129
No change from 1923
1381
(+88 from 1923)
0.11813
1923129
(-4 from 1922)
1293
(-66 from 1922)
0.11419
1922125
(-9 from 1921)
1359
(-174 from 1921)
0.12078
1921116
(+1 from 1920)
1533
(+59 from 1920)
0.13472
1920117
(-4 from 1919)
1474
(+52 from 1919)
0.13390
1919113
(-9 from 1918)
1422
(-169 from 1918)
0.14005
1918104
(-7 from 1917)
1591
(-73 from 1917)
0.15172
191797
(+2 from 1916)
1664
(+80 from 1916)
0.17346
191699
(+4 from 1915)
1584
(+152 from 1915)
0.17157
1915103
(-5 from 1914)
1432
(+263 from 1914)
0.16256
191498
No change from 1913
1169
(+232 from 1913)
0.17108
191398
(-1 from 1912)
937
(+134 from 1912)
0.17473
191297
(-3 from 1911)
803
(+377 from 1911)
0.17787
191194
(+7 from 1910)
426
(+102 from 1910)
0.17647
1910101
(+6 from 1909)
324
(+69 from 1909)
0.15538
1909107
(-3 from 1908)
255
(+9 from 1908)
0.14418
1908104
(-12 from 1907)
246
(-33 from 1907)
0.14787
190792
(+13 from 1906)
279
(+75 from 1906)
0.17593
1906105
(-2 from 1905)
204
(-6 from 1905)
0.14160
1905103
No change from 1904
210
(+7 from 1904)
0.14661
1904103
(-3 from 1903)
203
(+8 from 1903)
0.14657
1903100
(-7 from 1902)
195
(-21 from 1902)
0.15079
190293
(+9 from 1901)
216
(+54 from 1901)
0.16271
1901102
(-9 from 1900)
162
(-98 from 1900)
0.14015
190093
(+4 from 1899)
260
(+82 from 1899)
0.16037
189997
(+9 from 1898)
178
(-2 from 1898)
0.15452
1898106
(-3 from 1897)
180
(+8 from 1897)
0.13626
1897103
(-16 from 1896)
172
(-60 from 1896)
0.14105
189687
(+10 from 1895)
232
(+33 from 1895)
0.17975
189597
(-2 from 1894)
199
No change from 1894
0.15714
189495
(-12 from 1893)
199
(-19 from 1893)
0.15934
189383
(+12 from 1892)
218
(+16 from 1892)
0.18010
189295
No change from 1891
202
(+30 from 1891)
0.15367
189195
(-10 from 1890)
172
(-30 from 1890)
0.15742
189085
(+8 from 1889)
202
(+17 from 1889)
0.16876
188993
(-11 from 1888)
185
(-52 from 1888)
0.15542
188882
(+5 from 1887)
237
(+57 from 1887)
0.18244
188787
(-4 from 1886)
180
(-26 from 1886)
0.16467
188683
(-5 from 1885)
206
(+1 from 1885)
0.17305
188578
(-2 from 1884)
205
(-31 from 1884)
0.17681
188476
(+4 from 1883)
236
(+49 from 1883)
0.19228
188380
(-1 from 1882)
187
(-38 from 1882)
0.16626
188279
(-8 from 1881)
225
(+16 from 1881)
0.18438
188171
(+2 from 1880)
209
(-2 from 1880)
0.19303
188073
First SSA data recorded
211
First SSA data recorded
0.17821

American States Popularity Rankings for Alexander

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )

California (CA)

California (CA) flagCalifornia (CA)#92021#112022#132023

New York (NY)

New York (NY) flagNew York (NY)#172021#172022#202023

Texas (TX)

Texas (TX) flagTexas (TX)#142021#142022#202023

Florida (FL)

Florida (FL) flagFlorida (FL)#82021#112022#182023

Illinois (IL)

Illinois (IL) flagIllinois (IL)#62021#152022#212023

Pennsylvania (PA)

Pennsylvania (PA) flagPennsylvania (PA)#272021#312022#402023

Ohio (OH)

Ohio (OH) flagOhio (OH)#302021#332022#382023

New Jersey (NJ)

New Jersey (NJ) flagNew Jersey (NJ)#192021#172022#192023

Michigan (MI)

Michigan (MI) flagMichigan (MI)#232021#222022#292023

Massachusetts (MA)

Massachusetts (MA) flagMassachusetts (MA)#232021#302022#372023

North Carolina (NC)

North Carolina (NC) flagNorth Carolina (NC)#242021#252022#322023

Virginia (VA)

Virginia (VA) flagVirginia (VA)#162021#152022#242023

Georgia (GA)

Georgia (GA) flagGeorgia (GA)#152021#302022#382023

Washington (WA)

Washington (WA) flagWashington (WA)#152021#272022#232023

Minnesota (MN)

Minnesota (MN) flagMinnesota (MN)#492021#462022#502023

Wisconsin (WI)

Wisconsin (WI) flagWisconsin (WI)#292021#492022#452023

Indiana (IN)

Indiana (IN) flagIndiana (IN)#232021#302022#352023

Arizona (AZ)

Arizona (AZ) flagArizona (AZ)#102021#132022#162023

Maryland (MD)

Maryland (MD) flagMaryland (MD)#262021#302022#232023

Missouri (MO)

Missouri (MO) flagMissouri (MO)#402021#342022#462023

Colorado (CO)

Colorado (CO) flagColorado (CO)#172021#302022#332023

Connecticut (CT)

Connecticut (CT) flagConnecticut (CT)#192021#232022#342023

Tennessee (TN)

Tennessee (TN) flagTennessee (TN)#442021#352022#412023

Oregon (OR)

Oregon (OR) flagOregon (OR)#272021#272022#312023

South Carolina (SC)

South Carolina (SC) flagSouth Carolina (SC)#282021#502022#382023

Kentucky (KY)

Kentucky (KY) flagKentucky (KY)#302021#502022#372023

Alabama (AL)

Alabama (AL) flagAlabama (AL)#412021#492022#492023

Utah (UT)

Utah (UT) flagUtah (UT)#392021#382022#382023

Iowa (IA)

Iowa (IA) flagIowa (IA)#832021#562022#772023

Louisiana (LA)

Louisiana (LA) flagLouisiana (LA)#762021#582022#642023

Kansas (KS)

Kansas (KS) flagKansas (KS)#252021#342022#262023

Oklahoma (OK)

Oklahoma (OK) flagOklahoma (OK)#262021#352022#282023

Nevada (NV)

Nevada (NV) flagNevada (NV)#132021#132022#142023

Nebraska (NE)

Nebraska (NE) flagNebraska (NE)#162021#272022#412023

District of Columbia (DC)

District of Columbia (DC) flagDistrict of Columbia (DC)#112021#82022#232023

Arkansas (AR)

Arkansas (AR) flagArkansas (AR)#412021#442022#282023

Rhode Island (RI)

Rhode Island (RI) flagRhode Island (RI)#292021#182022#532023

Mississippi (MS)

Mississippi (MS) flagMississippi (MS)#1062021#742022#1072023

New Mexico (NM)

New Mexico (NM) flagNew Mexico (NM)#182021#122022#252023

New Hampshire (NH)

New Hampshire (NH) flagNew Hampshire (NH)#322021#502022#332023

Hawaii (HI)

Hawaii (HI) flagHawaii (HI)#82021#352022#182023

West Virginia (WV)

West Virginia (WV) flagWest Virginia (WV)#282021#402022#382023

Maine (ME)

Maine (ME) flagMaine (ME)#402021#592022#442023

Idaho (ID)

Idaho (ID) flagIdaho (ID)#302021#462022#362023

Delaware (DE)

Delaware (DE) flagDelaware (DE)#122021#262022#192023

North Dakota (ND)

North Dakota (ND) flagNorth Dakota (ND)#652021#272022#912023

Alaska (AK)

Alaska (AK) flagAlaska (AK)#932021#702022#112023

South Dakota (SD)

South Dakota (SD) flagSouth Dakota (SD)#402021#512022#692023

Montana (MT)

Montana (MT) flagMontana (MT)#492021#342022#612023

Vermont (VT)

Vermont (VT) flagVermont (VT)#822021#752022#352023

Wyoming (WY)

Wyoming (WY) flagWyoming (WY)#282021#232022#802023

Popularity Rankings for Alexander in other Countries and American Territories

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)

Popularity in Iceland

Iceland flagIceland#32021#62022#92023

Popularity in Estonia

Estonia flagEstonia#71951-1955#81956-1960

Popularity in Other American Territories

American Samoa flag American Samoa
Guam flag Guam
Northern Mariana Islands flag Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands flag U.S. Virgin Islands

Other American Territories flagOther American Territories#92020#182022#92023

Popularity in Scotland

Scotland flagScotland#102021#142022#152023

Popularity in Mexico

Mexico flagMexico#102020#112021

Popularity in Austria

Austria flagAustria#112020#122021#142022

Popularity in Australia (NSW)

Australia (NSW) flagAustralia (NSW)#172021#182022#182023

Popularity in Canada

Canada flagCanada#182021#252022#292023

Popularity in England and Wales

England and Wales flagEngland and Wales#212019#262020#272021

Popularity in Uruguay

Uruguay flagUruguay#402021#372022#262023

Popularity in Denmark

Denmark flagDenmark#282021#342022#46First half of 2023

Popularity in Sweden

Sweden flagSweden#282021#322022#352023

Popularity in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland flagNorthern Ireland#292021#472022#702023

Popularity in Belgium

Belgium flagBelgium#322020#402021#442022

Popularity in New Zealand

New Zealand flagNew Zealand#362021#422022#332023

Popularity in Slovakia

Slovakia flagSlovakia#392021#352022#412023

Popularity in Switzerland

Switzerland flagSwitzerland#362020#472021#562022

Popularity in Germany

Germany flagGermany#362021#362022#382023

Popularity in Ireland

Ireland flagIreland#432021#402022#482023

Popularity in Argentina

Argentina flagArgentina#532013#742014#722015

Popularity in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico flagPuerto Rico#572021#762022#852023

Popularity in Chile

Chile flagChile#632019#592020#622021

Popularity in Norway

Norway flagNorway#612021#822022#672023

Popularity in Greenland

Greenland flagGreenland#802019#982020#1072021

Popularity in Basque Country, Spain

Basque Country, Spain flagBasque Country, Spain#912013#802015#1002016

Popularity in Hungary

Hungary flagHungary#952020#992022#992023

Popularity in Poland

Poland flagPoland#962021#992022#1002023

Popularity in Quebec, Canada

Quebec, Canada flagQuebec, Canada#1542020#1342021#1522022

Popularity in Czechia

Czechia flagCzechia#1972011#2002013#1892015

Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources

Is Alexander a Name for Boys or Girls?

Alexander is a boy’s name. Its powerful and historical associations, along with its robust sound, make it a favored name for boys.

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Alexander