Boy name · Greek
Alexander
“defender of men”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Alexander.
Explore Alexander further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Alexander — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Alexander is Greek alexein (to defend) plus aner, andros (man) — a defender of men. It appears on Mycenaean Linear B tablets as Alaksandu, which makes it one of the oldest continuously used names in Europe by roughly three thousand years.
Alexander III of Macedon carried it across three continents, which is why it exists in Arabic as Iskandar, in Hindi as Sikandar and in Russian as Aleksandr. It sits at number 30 in the US and is top-20 in most of Europe.
Sasha is the Russian short form and startles English speakers, who read it as feminine. Four syllables want one (Alexander Reid, Alexander Wolfe). On our vibe map it is Heirloom with real Dark Academia weight.
More Greek names
Alexander sits in our Greek set — these share its roots.
All Greek names →Alexander — common questions
Is Alexander a boy or girl name?
Alexander is traditionally a boy name of Greek origin.
What does the name Alexander mean?
Alexander means “defender of men” of Greek origin. Alexander is Greek alexein (to defend) plus aner, andros (man) — a defender of men. It appears on Mycenaean Linear B tablets as Alaksandu, which makes it one of the oldest continuously used names in Europe by roughly three thousand years.
Where does the name Alexander come from?
Alexander is Greek in origin. Alexander III of Macedon carried it across three continents, which is why it exists in Arabic as Iskandar, in Hindi as Sikandar and in Russian as Aleksandr. It sits at number 30 in the US and is top-20 in most of Europe.
What are common nicknames for Alexander?
Alex, Xander, and Sasha — the short-forms parents most often use for Alexander.
How popular is Alexander?
Alexander did not make the top 1,000 boys' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Alexander you might want for the nursery.