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Alexander

♀ Girl

Pronounced al-ig-ZAN-der /ˌæl.ɪgˈzæn.dər/High

Meaning: From the Greek Alexandros — alexein, 'to defend', + aner, 'man', hence 'defender of men'; more often a boys' name; here for a girl; we note the crossoverLow

In 30 seconds: Defender of men: Alexander is Greek. Crisp, classic, and warm. More often a boys' name — here a girl.

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Origin LowGreek

MeaningFrom the Greek Alexandros — alexein, 'to defend', + aner, 'man', hence 'defender of men'; more often a boys' name; here for a girl; we note the crossover

U.S. rank (2025)#7502 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births14 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1988

Total births (all-time)≈ 4,545

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Alexander comes from the Greek Alexandros — alexein, 'to defend', + aner, 'man', hence 'defender of men' (we note the meaning). More often a boys' name, it is recorded here for a girl — which we flag honestly (slug distinguished; said 'al-ig-ZAN-der').

In the U.S. Alexander is chiefly a boys' name; this girls' use is unusual (the feminine forms are Alexandra/Alexandria). Rare for a girl, defender-of-men at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Alexander joins the Greek alexein ('to defend') and aner ('man'), hence 'defender of men' — more often a boys' name; it appears here for a girl, which we note (said 'al-ig-ZAN-der').

Overall data confidence 30%

References — Alexander — Greek; chiefly male

Variations

AlexandraAlexandriaAlexa

Nicknames

Alex

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Alexander…

Alexandra— the feminine form

Alexandria— a feminine form

Alexa— a kin girls' short form

Azalea— a fellow Greek choice

Alexia— another Greek name

Explore names like Alexander

By themeuncertain greek cross-sex

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Alexander mean?

Alexander is Greek for 'defender of men'. It is more often a boys' name; here it is recorded for a girl (the usual girls' forms are Alexandra/Alexandria).

How do you pronounce Alexander?

It's said al-ig-ZAN-der /ˌæl.ɪgˈzæn.dər/ — four syllables, stress on the third.

Is Alexander a boy or girl name?

Alexander is chiefly a boys' name; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Alexander?

Alexander is common for boys and very rare for girls.