The name Alexander (female variant being Alexandra) originates from Greece. It is a commonly occurring forename and a less frequently occurring surname. The name is known mainly in English, Dutch, German and Hungarian speaking countries.
The actual meaning of the name Alexander is "protector of men/man's defender”, "warrior”. It is an Anglicised version of the Latin form of the Greek name Alexandros, which is a combination of the verb "Alexō”, which means "to ward off” and "defend”, and the noun "Andros”, genitive of "An"r”, which means "man”.
The name was originally used as a title given to the goddess Hera, companion of Zeus. From this the name is usually associated with the meaning "one who comes to save warriors”. It also appears in the Bible as the one who helped Jesus Christ bear the cross when travelling to Calvary.
The most famous bearer of the name is probably Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) the King of Macedon, who conquered and ruled most of the known world and created one of the largest empires in ancient history before his death at the age of 33. History describes him as a man having an intensely enthusiastic imagination, impulsive energy and of high physical capability.
Other examples of famous people with the name Alexander include Alexander Graham Bell (who invented the telephone), Alexander Fleming (discovered penicillin), Alexander Pope (poet) and Alexander Scriabin (Russian pianist and composer). Obviously there are many other examples of famous people with the name Alexander.
The actual meaning of the name Alexander is "protector of men/man's defender”, "warrior”. It is an Anglicised version of the Latin form of the Greek name Alexandros, which is a combination of the verb "Alexō”, which means "to ward off” and "defend”, and the noun "Andros”, genitive of "An"r”, which means "man”.
The name was originally used as a title given to the goddess Hera, companion of Zeus. From this the name is usually associated with the meaning "one who comes to save warriors”. It also appears in the Bible as the one who helped Jesus Christ bear the cross when travelling to Calvary.
The most famous bearer of the name is probably Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) the King of Macedon, who conquered and ruled most of the known world and created one of the largest empires in ancient history before his death at the age of 33. History describes him as a man having an intensely enthusiastic imagination, impulsive energy and of high physical capability.
Other examples of famous people with the name Alexander include Alexander Graham Bell (who invented the telephone), Alexander Fleming (discovered penicillin), Alexander Pope (poet) and Alexander Scriabin (Russian pianist and composer). Obviously there are many other examples of famous people with the name Alexander.
