Alexandria

Alexandria is a feminine given name derived from the ancient Greek masculine name Alexandros, composed of the elements alexein, meaning to defend, and aner (genitive andros), meaning man, thus carrying the overall sense of defender of men. The name became widely used across many cultures largely through the fame of Alexander the Great, the Macedonian conqueror of the fourth century BCE, whose name was borne by numerous cities he founded, most famously Alexandria in Egypt. As a feminine form, it has been used in English-speaking countries since at least the medieval period and gained further popularity through European royalty, including Queen Alexandra of Denmark, consort to King Edward VII of Britain. Related forms include Alexandra, Alexandrina, Sandra, and Lexi.