(male) From the Latin form of the Greek name Alexandros, from alexein ‘to defend’ + anēr ‘man, warrior’ (genitive andros). The name became extremely popular in the post-classical period, and was borne by several individuals in the New Testament and some early Christian saints. Its use as a common given name throughout Europe, however, derives largely from the fame of Alexander the Great, King of Macedon (356–323 bc), around whom a large body of popular legend grew up in late antiquity, much of which came to be embodied in the medieval ‘Alexander romances’.
Short forms (also Scottish): Al, Alex, Alec, Alick.
Pet forms: Sandy (chiefly Scottish; Gaelic Sandaidh); Lexy, Lexie.
Cognates: Irish: Alastar. Scottish Gaelic: Alasdair (Anglicized as Alistair). German, Dutch: Alexander. Scandinavian: Alexander. French: Alexandre. Spanish: Alejandro. Catalan: Aleixandre. Portuguese: Alexandre. Italian: Alessandro. Russian: Aleksandr. Polish: Aleksander. Czech: Alexandr. Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian: Aleksandar. Slovenian: Aleksander. Finnish: Aleksanteri. Hungarian: Sándor.
