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Alexander is a common male first name. Its origin is Greek and it literally means "defender of men" (from ἀλέξειν aléxein
"to defend", and ἀνδρ- andr- "man"). It was one of the titles ("epithets") given to the Greek goddess Hera, who was believed to come to the aid of warriors in battle. In the Iliad, the character Paris is known also as Alexander. Albanians give the name a different translation: "Aï ka le si ander" meaning "born like a dream."
The name's popularity was spread by the military conquests of King Alexander III of Macedon, known as Alexander the Great (a hero claimed nowadays by Greeks and Albanians, as well as Slav Macedonians).
The female version of the name is Alexandra.
Nicknames: Alex, Alec, Allie, Lex, Sander, Sandy, Sandu (Romania), Sandro (Italy), Sasha (used primarily in Russia and surrounding countries)
First names that can be interpreted as Alexander in English
The Gaelic version, Alasdair, is particularly popular in Scotland, having been carried by several early kings of the country. The alternate spellings Alistair, Allistair, Alisdair, Alastair and Alister are also used.
A number of historically significant people were named Alexander:
Monarchs
- Alexander I of Epirus king of Epirus about 342 B.C.
- Alexander II of Epirus king of Epirus 272 B.C.
- Alexander of Pherae despot of Pherae between 369 and 358 BC
- Alexander I of Macedon, king of Macedon
- Alexander II of Macedon
- Alexander the Great (Alexander III of Macedon) (356-323 BC), king of Macedon
- Alexander IV of Macedon
- Alexander Severus, (208-235), Roman Emperor
- Alexander III, Byzantine Emperor
- Alexander Joseph of Battenburg, (1857-1893), first prince of Bulgaria
- Alexander of Greece (king), (1917-1920), king of Greece
- Alexander of Poland (1461-1506), king of Poland
- Alexander I of Russia, (1777-1825), emperor of Russia
- Alexander II of Russia, (1818-1881), emperor of Russia
- Alexander III of Russia, (1845 - November 1, 1894), emperor of Russia
- Alexander I of Serbia, (1842-1858), Serbian king
- Alexander Obrenovich (1876-1903), king of Serbia
- Alexander of Yugoslavia (1888-1934), first king of Yugoslavia
- Alexander I of Scotland, (ca 1078 - April, 1124)
- Alexander II of Scotland, (1198 - July 6, 1249)
- Alexander III of Scotland, (September 4, 1241 - March, 1286)
- Alexandru cel Bun, voivode of Moldavia (1400-1432)
- Alexandru Coconul, voivode of Moldavia (1629-1630)
- Alexander John Cuza, prince of Romania (1859-1866)
- Alexandru Lăpuşneanu, voivode of Moldavia (1552-1561 and 1564 - 1568)
- Alexandru Movilă, voivode of Moldavia (1615-1616)
Religious leaders
- Alexander I, Pope, (pope 97-105)
- Alexander II, Pope, (pope 1058-1061)
- Alexander III, Pope, (pope 1164-1168)
- Alexander IV, Pope, (pope 1243-1254)
- Alexander V, Pope, (Peter Philarges ca. 1339-May 3, 1410)
- Alexander VI, Pope, (1431-1503), Roman pope
- Alexander VII, Pope, (1599-1667)
- Alexander VIII, Pope, (pope 1689-1691),
- Alexander of Constantinople, bishop of Constantinople (314-337)
- Alexander (I) of Alexandria, Coptic Pope, Patriarch of Alexandria between 313 and 328
- Alexander II of Alexandria, Coptic Pope (702-729)
- Alexander of Antioch
- Alexander of Jerusalem
Others named Alexander
- Alexander Aetolus Greek poet
- Alexander Alexandrov, (1883-1946), Russian composer
- Alexander Balas, ruler of the Seleucid kingdom of Syria between 150 and 146 BC
- Alexander Dubcek, reforming head of the Czechoslovak Communist Party during the Prague Spring of 1968
- Alexander Polyhistor, Greek grammarian
- Sir Alexander Fleming, British scientist
- Alexander Hamilton, first United States Secretary of the Treasury
- Alexander Jannaeus, king of Judaea between 103 and 76 BC
- Alexander of Aphrodisias Greek commentator and philosopher
- Alexander of Greece (rhetorician), Greek rhetorician
- Alexander of Hales 13th century Medieval theologian
- Alexander, otherwise known as Paris, the Trojan prince who kidnapped Helen
- Alexander Pushkin, Russian author
- Alexander Rozhenko, a character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
- Alex the Stockbroker, strip cartoon eponym
Places
A number of places are also associated with Alexander:
- Alexander, Manitoba, Canada
- Alexander Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- Alexander River, New Zealand
- Alexander, Arkansas, United States
- Alexander, Iowa, United States
- Alexander, Kansas, United States
- Alexander, Maine, United States
- Alexander (town), New York, United States
- Alexander (village), New York, United States
- Alexander, North Dakota
- Alexander Township, McKenzie County, North Dakota, United States
- Alexander Township, Pierce County, North Dakota, United States
- Alexander Township, Stutsman County, North Dakota, United States
- Alexander Township, Ohio, United States
There are also numerous cities throughout the world named Alexandria
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