Alexander is a name of Greek origin and has a rich history behind it. It is derived from the Greek word "alexein" which means 'to defend' or 'to protect'. The second part of the name, "ander", comes from the Greek word "anér" meaning 'man'.
The name Alexander became popularized due to Alexander the Great, who was a king of Macedon and one of the most famous conquerors in history. He lived from 356 BC to 323 BC and by the age of thirty, he had created one of the largest empires in ancient history.
In the Middle Ages, the name Alexander became associated with the heroic epic poem "The Song of Roland", which was popular in medieval Europe. This helped further spread its use throughout Europe.
Today, Alexander remains a popular boys' name around the world. It has many variations and forms, including Alex, Alec, Alessandro, Alejandro, and Sasha, among others. Despite being traditionally used for males, some parents have also started using it as a girls' name in recent years.
In the years 1992 and 1995, there were a combined total of ten babies named Alexandria born annually.