Alexander: Meaning, origin and popularity

Pronounced a-lig-ZAN-der · 4 syllables

Alexander means “defender of the people”, from Greek.

From Middle English Alexander, Alexandre, from Latin Alexander, from Ancient Greek (Alexandros), from (alexo, “to defend”) + - (andr-), the stem of (aner, “man”). Doublet of Alastair, Alejandro, Iskandar, Sikandar, Alessandro, and Alexandre.

Meaning: defender of the people
Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: a-lig-ZAN-der
US rank (2025): #30
US babies a year: about 8,189 (2021–2025)
Peak: around 1990
Style: Classic, Biblical
Nicknames: Alex, Lex, Xander

How popular is Alexander?

Alexander was the #30 name in the US in 2025, given to 7,244 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 46% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1990.

Babies named Alexander in the US by five-year period, relative to its peak (around 1990).

Around the world

Country	Rank
United States	#30
England & Wales	#26
Scotland	#8
Northern Ireland	#48
Ireland	#58
France	#783
Norway	#81
Canada	#42
Australia	#22

How old are people named Alexander?

Half of US adults named Alexander are older than 31; most are between 19 and 59. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)

Sibling names for Alexander

Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Alexander have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.

Names like Alexander

Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.

On these lists

Questions about Alexander

What does the name Alexander mean?

Alexander means “defender of the people”. It comes from Greek.

How do you pronounce Alexander?

Alexander is pronounced a-lig-ZAN-der.

How popular is the name Alexander?

Alexander was the #30 name in the US in 2025, given to 7,244 babies. It’s used less than it was: down 46% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1990.

How old are people named Alexander?

Half of US adults named Alexander are older than 31. Most are between 19 and 59.