Names That Mean Defending
Across 4 pages
of 4
The names
Alexander
Greek
"defending men"
Alexander has been in a Top 25 boys' name in the US for 30 years now. But namers are still attracted to its imposing historic pedigree. Alexander is derived from the Greek name Aléxandros, composed…
Alejandro
Spanish variation of Alexander
"defending men"
Softer and smoother than Alexander, this classic Spanish name for boys has made a seamless transition to this culture. Adding to its current impact: the Lady Gaga song Alejandro .
Alex
Diminutive of Alexander, Alexis
"defending men"
The independent Alex has become a classic in its own right. One of the truest unisex names , Alex is used almost equally for both sexes. Alex is used both on its own and as a short form of formal…
Alexandra
Greek, feminine form of Alexander
"defending men"
Alexandra fell out of the Top 100 for the first time since 1983 in 2015 but is still a popular choice. Strong, tasteful, and elegant, Alexandra remains a chic modern classic with a solid historic…
Xander
Diminutive of Alexander, Greek
"defending men"
Xander is a diminutive of Alexander, the Latin variation of the Greek Alexandros. Its meaning, "defending men," is taken from the Greek roots aléxein , "to defend," and andros , "men." Zander,…
Alessia
Italian variation of Alexis
"defending warrior"
Young Canadian pop singer Alessia Cara has given this spicy-sounding name a new lease on life, propelling it into the Top 1000 in 2016. It was one of the fastest rising girl names of the year in…
Zander
Diminutive of Alexander
"defending men"
On the rise as an independent name: Zander and Xander are both widely used can increasingly be found as characters in movies and on TV.
Alessandra
Italian and Portuguese variation of Alexandra
"defending men"
This Italian and Portuguese variant of the classic Alexandra softens the classic name, while still maintaining its strength and dignity. Currently in the US Top 500, it also ranks in Brazil and…
Alexandria
Variation of Alexandra, Greek
"defending men"
Alexandria turns classic Alexandra into a more distinctive place-name, in both Egypt and Virginia, while also giving it a touchy of frilliness. The name peaked in the 90s when it entered the US Top…
Alessandro
Italian variation of Alexander
"defending men"
For anyone seeking a more unusual version of Alexander, this is a real winner. Notable namesakes include the great Italian opera composer Scarlatti and the influential physicist Alessandro Volta,…
Alejandra
Spanish variation of Alexandra
"defending men"
Alejandra, the Spanish form of this popular and multivaried name, has fans both in and outside the Latino community. Still, it has lost ground since its peak in the 1990s.
Lexi
Diminutive of Alexandra, Greek
"defending men"
Lexi and Lexie, pixieish offshoots of the prolific Alex family, have come into their own. While it's on a gentle downslope, Lexi still ranks in the US Top 500.
Sanders
Scottish diminutive of Alexander
"defending men"
Sanders is one of the S-ending surnames gaining traction as a first name for boys in the US. It jumped nearly 2000 points in popularity this year.
Sasha
Russian, diminutive of Greek Alexander
"defending men"
Sasha, largely male in Russia--and also spelled Sascha and Sacha--is an energetic name that has really taken off for girls here, chosen by Jerry Seinfeld (using the alternate Sascha spelling) and…
Alexa
Greek, English
"defending men"
Alexa was a steadily popular modern classic until Amazon's virtual assistant Alexa was released in 2013. It remains relatively well used in the US despite this, though its standing keeps dropping for…
Alexia
Diminutive of Alexandria, Greek
"defending men"
This diminutive, similar to Alex or Alexis, has been yo-yoing in popularity since the turn of the 21st century.
Alistair
English spelling of Alasdair, Scottish version of Alexander
"defending men"
With many British names invading the Yankee name pool, the sophisticated Alistair could and should be part of the next wave. It debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2016. You have a triple choice with this…
Alexina
Variation of Alexandra, Greek
"defending men"
This spin on the "Alex" prefix was the 88th most popular girl name in Scotland in 1900.
Lex
Diminutive of Alexander
"defending men"
Cool short form of Alexander, fresher than Alex and less trendy than Xander... for now.
Sandy
Scottish and English diminutive of Alexander
"defending men"
A sweet Scottish short form of Alexander which is feeling newly appealing now the era of Sandra is far behind us. Sandy would also work well as a nickname for a child with pale red or dark blond hair.
