Fun Facts About the Name Alexander
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 736,047 boys named Alexander from 1880 through 2025.
- Back among the favorites: Alexander returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 49 consecutive years, through 2025.
- Still popular, but losing ground: Alexander's rank fell 9 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
- More than 740 thousand babies named Alexander: U.S. records list 740,592 babies given the name Alexander from 1880 through 2025. Even 4,545 girls received the name Alexander - about 1 girl for every 162 boys.
What Does the Name Alexander Mean?
Alexander is the English form of the Greek name Alexandros (Ἀλέξανδρος), usually translated "defender of men" or "protector of men." The name joins the verb alexō (ἀλέξω), "to ward off, defend, protect," with anēr (ἀνήρ), "man," whose genitive is andros (ἀνδρός). Literally, the compound describes one who defends or protects men; the familiar English meaning is a condensed rendering of those two parts, not a translation of a separate Greek word. The second element normally means "man" in the sense of a male person or human beings; it can also mean "husband" in other contexts, but that sense is not the usual force in this name.
Alexander Name History & Origins
The Greek name Alexandros appears in early Greek literature. In the Iliad, Alexandros is a second name of Paris, the Trojan prince. The name was also borne by historical Greeks, most famously Alexander III of Macedon, known as Alexander the Great (356 - 323 BCE). His conquests spread Greek rule and language through the eastern Mediterranean, Egypt, and parts of Asia, and the name Alexandros is attested in Greek sources from the Hellenistic period.
The name passed into Latin as Alexander. It appears several times in the New Testament, where different men named Alexander are mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles and the letters to Timothy. Early Christian leaders also carried the name, including Pope Alexander I and Alexander, bishop of Alexandria in the fourth century. In the Byzantine Empire, Emperor Alexander ruled from 912 to 913. Through Latin and Christian use, the name entered the vernacular languages of Europe.
In medieval Europe, the name took local forms. Scottish kings named Alexander ruled in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries: Alexander I (r. 1107 - 1124), Alexander II (r. 1214 - 1249), and Alexander III (r. 1249 - 1286). In Russia, the name became Aleksandr; it was borne by Alexander Nevsky in the thirteenth century and later by Russian tsars, including Alexander I (r. 1801 - 1825), Alexander II (r. 1855 - 1881), and Alexander III (r. 1881 - 1894). In medieval English, the name appears in forms such as Alisaunder, influenced by Old French Alexandre. Middle English romances about Alexander the Great, such as Kyng Alisaunder, kept the name in literary use. From Latin, the name also developed into Alessandro in Italian, Alejandro in Spanish, and Alexandre in French, while English and German use Alexander.
How Popular is the Name Alexander?
Alexander has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 77 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1977 to 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,502 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2024 | #9,555 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #9,008 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2022 | #9,695 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #5,753 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2020 | #10,288 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #5,447 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 2018 | #6,024 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2017 | #5,831 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2016 | #6,673 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2015 | #5,844 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2014 | #4,358 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 2013 | #4,649 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2012 | #4,969 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2011 | #4,249 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2010 | #3,571 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 2009 | #4,372 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2008 | #3,648 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 2007 | #3,987 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 2006 | #3,224 | 51 | 0.0027% |
| 2005 | #2,672 | 63 | 0.0034% |
| 2004 | #1,685 | 115 | 0.0063% |
| 2003 | #2,801 | 55 | 0.0030% |
| 2002 | #2,047 | 84 | 0.0047% |
| 2001 | #2,881 | 50 | 0.0028% |
| 2000 | #2,403 | 64 | 0.0035% |
| 1999 | #1,707 | 96 | 0.0054% |
| 1998 | #1,868 | 82 | 0.0046% |
| 1997 | #1,846 | 80 | 0.0046% |
| 1996 | #1,657 | 92 | 0.0052% |
| 1995 | #1,197 | 143 | 0.0081% |
| 1994 | #1,094 | 164 | 0.0092% |
| 1993 | #1,034 | 178 | 0.0098% |
| 1992 | #929 | 209 | 0.0113% |
| 1991 | #967 | 194 | 0.0103% |
| 1990 | #873 | 223 | 0.0117% |
| 1989 | #803 | 237 | 0.0129% |
| 1988 | #602 | 331 | 0.0186% |
| 1987 | #810 | 216 | 0.0124% |
| 1986 | #809 | 207 | 0.0121% |
| 1985 | #1,023 | 147 | 0.0085% |
| 1984 | #1,144 | 119 | 0.0071% |
| 1983 | #1,475 | 78 | 0.0047% |
| 1982 | #1,446 | 83 | 0.0049% |
| 1981 | #1,867 | 58 | 0.0035% |
| 1980 | #2,014 | 52 | 0.0031% |
| 1979 | #2,583 | 35 | 0.0022% |
| 1978 | #2,431 | 36 | 0.0024% |
| 1977 | #2,606 | 32 | 0.0021% |
| 1976 | #2,438 | 33 | 0.0023% |
| 1975 | #2,611 | 29 | 0.0020% |
| 1974 | #2,067 | 40 | 0.0027% |
| 1973 | #2,405 | 31 | 0.0021% |
| 1972 | #3,544 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1971 | #3,265 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1970 | #3,582 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1969 | #2,844 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1968 | #3,319 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1967 | #4,303 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1966 | #4,870 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #4,206 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #4,360 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #6,600 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #4,541 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #4,888 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1960 | #3,515 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1959 | #4,304 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #4,197 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #4,923 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #4,746 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #5,684 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #4,128 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #4,325 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #5,253 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1946 | #3,668 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1945 | #4,566 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1938 | #3,457 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1936 | #4,195 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1934 | #3,811 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1932 | #3,576 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1930 | #4,563 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1929 | #2,926 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1928 | #3,441 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1927 | #3,056 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1925 | #4,434 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1924 | #5,086 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1923 | #4,385 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #3,966 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1919 | #3,829 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1918 | #3,875 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1917 | #4,607 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1916 | #3,039 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1915 | #2,533 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1914 | #2,884 | 7 | 0.0009% |
| 1913 | #3,200 | 5 | 0.0008% |
| 1909 | #2,216 | 5 | 0.0014% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #30 | 7,230 | 0.4233% |
| 2024 | #27 | 7,517 | 0.4382% |
| 2023 | #22 | 7,909 | 0.4629% |
| 2022 | #17 | 8,744 | 0.5013% |
| 2021 | #13 | 9,418 | 0.5387% |
| 2020 | #10 | 10,262 | 0.5949% |
| 2019 | #10 | 11,325 | 0.6315% |
| 2018 | #11 | 12,109 | 0.6670% |
| 2017 | #13 | 12,574 | 0.6796% |
| 2016 | #11 | 13,445 | 0.7087% |
| 2015 | #8 | 14,583 | 0.7610% |
| 2014 | #8 | 15,444 | 0.8042% |
| 2013 | #8 | 14,922 | 0.7890% |
| 2012 | #9 | 15,257 | 0.8044% |
| 2011 | #8 | 15,716 | 0.8276% |
| 2010 | #6 | 16,767 | 0.8740% |
| 2009 | #4 | 18,253 | 0.9203% |
| 2008 | #6 | 18,710 | 0.9172% |
| 2007 | #11 | 18,150 | 0.8746% |
| 2006 | #12 | 18,235 | 0.8873% |
| 2005 | #13 | 18,128 | 0.9077% |
| 2004 | #15 | 17,925 | 0.9031% |
| 2003 | #16 | 17,714 | 0.8968% |
| 2002 | #15 | 17,718 | 0.9126% |
| 2001 | #20 | 16,719 | 0.8605% |
| 2000 | #20 | 17,290 | 0.8804% |
| 1999 | #21 | 17,420 | 0.9073% |
| 1998 | #22 | 17,466 | 0.9138% |
| 1997 | #22 | 17,112 | 0.9078% |
| 1996 | #22 | 17,964 | 0.9484% |
| 1995 | #21 | 19,454 | 1.0219% |
| 1994 | #22 | 20,098 | 1.0403% |
| 1993 | #21 | 20,529 | 1.0467% |
| 1992 | #23 | 20,069 | 1.0048% |
| 1991 | #26 | 17,637 | 0.8730% |
| 1990 | #28 | 16,194 | 0.7884% |
| 1989 | #32 | 14,524 | 0.7259% |
| 1988 | #34 | 13,338 | 0.6968% |
| 1987 | #37 | 11,837 | 0.6340% |
| 1986 | #41 | 10,610 | 0.5762% |
| 1985 | #50 | 8,298 | 0.4490% |
| 1984 | #54 | 6,492 | 0.3597% |
| 1983 | #63 | 4,806 | 0.2681% |
| 1982 | #65 | 4,592 | 0.2531% |
| 1981 | #70 | 4,236 | 0.2365% |
| 1980 | #91 | 3,280 | 0.1838% |
| 1979 | #94 | 3,059 | 0.1777% |
| 1978 | #98 | 2,739 | 0.1668% |
| 1977 | #96 | 2,703 | 0.1645% |
| 1976 | #107 | 2,444 | 0.1558% |
| 1975 | #105 | 2,439 | 0.1562% |
| 1974 | #112 | 2,355 | 0.1498% |
| 1973 | #116 | 2,259 | 0.1449% |
| 1972 | #129 | 2,118 | 0.1306% |
| 1971 | #133 | 2,360 | 0.1334% |
| 1970 | #137 | 2,464 | 0.1326% |
| 1969 | #150 | 2,015 | 0.1127% |
| 1968 | #154 | 1,773 | 0.1020% |
| 1967 | #178 | 1,455 | 0.0834% |
| 1966 | #182 | 1,369 | 0.0768% |
| 1965 | #191 | 1,321 | 0.0710% |
| 1964 | #212 | 1,291 | 0.0648% |
| 1963 | #214 | 1,309 | 0.0645% |
| 1962 | #221 | 1,219 | 0.0589% |
| 1961 | #223 | 1,228 | 0.0578% |
| 1960 | #232 | 1,198 | 0.0562% |
| 1959 | #233 | 1,166 | 0.0546% |
| 1958 | #221 | 1,188 | 0.0560% |
| 1957 | #212 | 1,264 | 0.0586% |
| 1956 | #211 | 1,234 | 0.0583% |
| 1955 | #208 | 1,171 | 0.0569% |
| 1954 | #200 | 1,236 | 0.0606% |
| 1953 | #195 | 1,261 | 0.0639% |
| 1952 | #186 | 1,284 | 0.0661% |
| 1951 | #190 | 1,212 | 0.0644% |
| 1950 | #189 | 1,165 | 0.0651% |
| 1949 | #180 | 1,184 | 0.0667% |
| 1948 | #183 | 1,130 | 0.0644% |
| 1947 | #190 | 1,081 | 0.0591% |
| 1946 | #188 | 964 | 0.0594% |
| 1945 | #178 | 891 | 0.0662% |
| 1944 | #183 | 864 | 0.0634% |
| 1943 | #178 | 925 | 0.0648% |
| 1942 | #184 | 860 | 0.0623% |
| 1941 | #184 | 818 | 0.0666% |
| 1940 | #188 | 760 | 0.0656% |
| 1939 | #186 | 723 | 0.0653% |
| 1938 | #193 | 666 | 0.0600% |
| 1937 | #191 | 675 | 0.0633% |
| 1936 | #200 | 613 | 0.0591% |
| 1935 | #186 | 702 | 0.0674% |
| 1934 | #200 | 616 | 0.0597% |
| 1933 | #187 | 659 | 0.0665% |
| 1932 | #178 | 774 | 0.0741% |
| 1931 | #172 | 795 | 0.0765% |
| 1930 | #168 | 872 | 0.0795% |
| 1929 | #156 | 985 | 0.0916% |
| 1928 | #152 | 1,048 | 0.0946% |
| 1927 | #146 | 1,092 | 0.0969% |
| 1926 | #146 | 1,150 | 0.1036% |
| 1925 | #137 | 1,224 | 0.1097% |
| 1924 | #129 | 1,381 | 0.1219% |
| 1923 | #129 | 1,293 | 0.1180% |
| 1922 | #125 | 1,359 | 0.1249% |
| 1921 | #116 | 1,533 | 0.1392% |
| 1920 | #117 | 1,474 | 0.1385% |
| 1919 | #113 | 1,422 | 0.1451% |
| 1918 | #104 | 1,591 | 0.1570% |
| 1917 | #97 | 1,664 | 0.1798% |
| 1916 | #99 | 1,584 | 0.1780% |
| 1915 | #103 | 1,432 | 0.1688% |
| 1914 | #98 | 1,169 | 0.1785% |
| 1913 | #98 | 937 | 0.1828% |
| 1912 | #97 | 803 | 0.1868% |
| 1911 | #94 | 426 | 0.1885% |
| 1910 | #101 | 324 | 0.1668% |
| 1909 | #107 | 255 | 0.1555% |
| 1908 | #104 | 246 | 0.1594% |
| 1907 | #92 | 279 | 0.1900% |
| 1906 | #105 | 204 | 0.1532% |
| 1905 | #103 | 210 | 0.1587% |
| 1904 | #103 | 203 | 0.1584% |
| 1903 | #100 | 195 | 0.1635% |
| 1902 | #93 | 216 | 0.1761% |
| 1901 | #102 | 162 | 0.1522% |
| 1900 | #93 | 260 | 0.1728% |
| 1899 | #97 | 178 | 0.1676% |
| 1898 | #106 | 180 | 0.1467% |
| 1897 | #103 | 172 | 0.1525% |
| 1896 | #87 | 232 | 0.1940% |
| 1895 | #97 | 199 | 0.1695% |
| 1894 | #95 | 199 | 0.1719% |
| 1893 | #83 | 218 | 0.1941% |
| 1892 | #95 | 202 | 0.1655% |
| 1891 | #95 | 172 | 0.1700% |
| 1890 | #85 | 202 | 0.1819% |
| 1889 | #93 | 185 | 0.1673% |
| 1888 | #82 | 237 | 0.1961% |
| 1887 | #87 | 180 | 0.1775% |
| 1886 | #83 | 206 | 0.1859% |
| 1885 | #78 | 205 | 0.1902% |
| 1884 | #76 | 236 | 0.2062% |
| 1883 | #80 | 187 | 0.1787% |
| 1882 | #79 | 225 | 0.1979% |
| 1881 | #71 | 209 | 0.2075% |
| 1880 | #73 | 211 | 0.1910% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
