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Gender
Masculine
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Origin of the Name Alexander
Greek
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Usage of the Name Alexander
English, German, Dutch, Greek Mythology, Biblical
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Meaning of the Name Alexander
The name Alexander comes from the Latinized version of the Greek name Alexandros meaning "defender of men" (from Greek "alexein" - "to defend" and "andros" - "man's").
Although many New Testament characters are named Alexander, the medieval "Alexander romances" about Alexander the Great are responsible for the name's popularity in Europe.
In Greek mythology, the shepherd Agelaus was charged with killing King Priam's infant son who, it had been foretold, would bring about the downfall of Troy. Agelaus refused and instead raised the boy himself. He gave the boy the name Alexander after the boy saved one of his herds from cattle thieves. The boy grew up to be Paris of Troy.
There were also several biblical Alexanders, including the son of Simon of Cyrene, who was one of Jesus' cross-bearers.
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Interesting Facts about Alexander
- There is a style of silk called Alexander silk, possibly after Alexander the Great, under whose rule the Silk Road opened, or after one of the cities of Alexandria on the Silk Road.
- Alexander McQueen, one of the most famous fashion brands in the world, is named for its founder Lee Alexander McQueen (1969 - 2010).
- The Alexander Technique is a self-improvement technique focusing on posture developed by Frederick Matthias Alexander in the 1890s.
- Also, an alexander is a cocktail first made around 1930 with crème de cacao, cream, and gin or brandy.
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Famous Bearers
Other bearers of the name include Alexander the Great (356 BC - 323 BC), the King of Macedon;
Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744), an English poet;
Alexander Hamilton (c. 1757 - 1804), an American economist, political philosopher, and a Founding Father of the United States;
Alexander von Humboldt (1769 - 1859), a German naturalist and explorer;
Alexander Graham Bell (1847 - 1922), an American scientist and inventor;
Alexander Calder (1898 - 1976), an American artist and sculptor.
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Names Related to Alexander
List of names related to Alexander.
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