Alexander
Alexander is a boys' name of Greek origin meaning “defender of men.” It ranked #30 in the United States in 2025. From the Greek Alexandros, composed of 'alexein' (to defend) and 'aner' (man).
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how do you pronounce Alexander?
al-eg-ZAN-der
where does the name Alexander come from?
From the Greek Ἀλέξανδρος, combining alexein, meaning to defend or ward off, with anēr, genitive andros, meaning man. It reads as defender of men, and unusually for an ancient name the parsing is transparent and undisputed.
The name spread throughout the ancient world following the conquests of Alexander the Great of Macedon in the 4th century BCE, and remains one of the most enduring names in Western civilization.
how popular is this name?
Alexander has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #4 in 2009, and ranked #30 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #30 |
| 2024 | #27 |
| 2023 | #22 |
| 2022 | #17 |
| 2021 | #13 |
| 2020 | #10 |
| 2019 | #10 |
| 2018 | #11 |
| 2017 | #13 |
| 2016 | #11 |
| 2010 | #6 |
| 2009 | #4 |
| 2000 | #20 |
| 1990 | #28 |
| 1980 | #91 |
| 1970 | #137 |
| 1960 | #232 |
| 1950 | #189 |
| 1940 | #188 |
| 1930 | #168 |
| 1920 | #117 |
| 1910 | #101 |
| 1900 | #93 |
| 1890 | #85 |
| 1880 | #73 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Alexander fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Alexander
The name predates its most famous bearer considerably: Homer calls Paris of Troy Alexandros, and a form of it appears in Hittite records as Alaksandu. Alexander the Great then spread it from Greece to the Punjab, and it was subsequently taken by eight popes, three Russian tsars and three Scottish kings.
who are famous people named Alexander?
- Alexander the Great (Macedonian king)
- Alexander Hamilton (Founding Father)
- Alexander Graham Bell (inventor)
- Alexander McQueen (fashion designer)
what are the nicknames and variants of Alexander?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Alexander?
what names go well with Alexander?
Sibling names that share Alexander's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Alexander
What does the name Alexander mean?
Alexander means “defender of men”.
What is the origin of the name Alexander?
Alexander comes from the Greek naming tradition. Related forms include Alexandre, Alessandro and Aleksander.
How popular is the name Alexander?
Alexander ranked #30 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2009, at #4, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Alexander a boy or girl name?
Alexander is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Alexander?
Alexander is pronounced al-eg-ZAN-der, with 4 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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