Boy name guide
Alexander name meaning, origin and style
Alexander is a Greek via Latin name commonly associated with defender of people.
- Origin
- Greek via Latin
- Meaning
- defender of people
- Say it
- al-ig-ZAN-der (American English); al-ig-ZAHN-duh (British English)
Choosing Alexander
A classic, formal choice with the flexible short forms Alex and Xander.
Origin and meaning in context
Alexander comes through Latin from the Greek Alexandros. Its components concern defending and people, conventionally translated as “defender of men.” The familiar English form belongs to a wider family of names across languages; a translated form can change both spelling and sound.
Pronunciation, nicknames and related forms
Alex, Alec and Xander are established English short forms. Alexandre is a French form and Alessandro an Italian one. A family can use Alexander in full or agree on one everyday short form without treating the alternatives as interchangeable.
How to compare your shortlist
Alexander gives you a longer full name and several distinct short forms. Benjamin has a different opening sound but similar flexibility; William offers a shorter full form with Will as an everyday option. Try the full name and the nickname with your surname before deciding.
Sources and editorial review
Updated by Family Resource Editorial on 8 October 2026. Pronunciation guides are approximations; sounds vary by accent and language. Style comparisons are editorial suggestions, not popularity rankings.
Popularity note
Popularity changes over time and by place. For current United States birth-name data, consult the Social Security Administration’s annual name statistics.
Print a baby-name shortlist worksheet to compare your favourites side by side.