Alejandro is a Spanish name of Greek origin that means "defender of mankind." It is derived from the Greek word "alexein," which means "to defend," and "andros," meaning "man." The name Alejandro is associated with Alexander the Great, the ancient Macedonian king who conquered much of the known world in the 4th century BC.
The name Alejandro has been popular throughout history. It was borne by several notable figures, including Alexander the Great's father, Philip II of Macedon, who named his son after himself and his grandfather Alexander I of Epirus. The name also appears in literature, most notably as the protagonist of Alexander Pushkin's poem "Eugene Onegin" and Charles Dickens' novel "Great Expectations."
In Spain, Alejandro has been a popular name for centuries. It was among the top ten names for boys throughout much of the 20th century. Today, it remains one of the most common names in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries.
The name Alejandro is composed of two syllables and has a strong, commanding sound to it. It can be shortened to Alec or Alex, but Alejandro is often used as a full name due to its rich history and cultural significance. Overall, Alejandro is a strong and distinguished name with a long and illustrious past.
The name Alejandro experienced a significant rise in popularity over the course of its recorded history, with a total of 142,747 births attributed to it between 1885 and 2023. While the earliest years saw fewer than ten births per year, by the mid-20th century, Alejandro began to gain traction, with over 100 births recorded annually from 1964 onwards.
The most dramatic increase in popularity occurred during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with a peak of 3,534 births in 1993. This trend continued into the early 2000s, with Alejandro reaching its zenith in terms of newborns in 2000 (4,510 births). However, since then, the popularity of the name has steadily declined, reaching a low of 1,825 births in 2023.
Despite this recent downturn, Alejandro remains a well-established and widely-used name, with over two centuries of recorded usage. Its enduring appeal can be attributed to its Spanish origin and meaning ("defender of mankind"), as well as its association with prominent historical figures such as Alexander the Great.