Skender

Skender is the Albanian and South Slavic form of Alexander, ultimately derived from the ancient Greek name Alexandros, composed of the elements alexein, meaning to defend, and aner, meaning man. The name entered the Balkans primarily through the legacy of Alexander the Great and was further reinforced by the spread of the Arabic form Iskandar via Islamic cultural influence. Its most celebrated bearer is Gjergj Kastrioti, the fifteenth-century Albanian national hero who bore the epithet Skënderbeu, meaning Lord Alexander, and led resistance against Ottoman expansion. Related forms include Aleksandar, Aleksander, and Iskandar.