ALEXANDER  

Gender: M
Origin: Greek
Meaning: "defending warrior"

Popularity in 2008: #6

In the Top 25 since 1991, and still at a high #6, the noble Alexander led to the popularity of so many spin-offs, such as Alex, Zander, Xan, and Zan, that it almost feels as if the name world's been Alextrified out.

Variations:
Sandy, Zander, Al, Alexxander, Alexsandor, Xander, Alex, Zan, Lex, Alexandar, Alexsander, Alix, Alixander, Alec, Alecsander, Alexzander, Xan

International Variations:
Alexandre (French) Alexios, Alexandros (Greek) Sándor (Hungarian) Alastar (Irish Gaelic) Alessandro, Sandro (Italian) Alexio (Portuguese) Alexandru (Romanian) Alexei, Sasha, Aleksandr, Shura, Sanya (Russian) Alasdair, Alistair (Scottish Gaelic) Alejandro (Spanish)

People who like Alexander also like:

Alice, Charlotte, Clara, Eleanor, Iris, Jane, Olivia, Henry, William, James, Jack, Julian, Oliver, Thomas

Alexander is being discussed in our message boards:

• What would you choose if you were having boy-girl twins?
• Favourite BOYS names!
• Best of British - some Telegraph birth announcements
• Joel David or Jack David?
• A brother or sister for little Jack or Olivia

Read Nameberry blog posts about Alexander:

• IRISH NAMES NOW: What's doing in Dublin?
• EXOTIC LITE: Boys' Edition
• BEHIND THE NAMER
• KISSING COUSIN NAMES: Names that don't look related--but are
• BRITISH BABY NAMES: Quirky & Charming