Alexandra

Alexandra is the feminine form of the Greek name Alexandros, composed of the elements alexein, meaning to defend, and aner, meaning man, giving the overall sense of defender of men. The name gained wide use across Europe largely through the fame of Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king of the 4th century BC, and later through various European royal houses that adopted it for daughters and consorts. Notable bearers include Alexandra of Denmark, who became queen of the United Kingdom as wife of Edward VII, helping to popularize the name in the English-speaking world during the 19th century. Closely related forms include Alessandra, Aleksandra, Alexandrina, and the shortened variants Sandra and Lexi.