A male name. (French Alexandre, Italian Alessandro, Sandro, Gaelic Alastair, Alister). Greek 'Αλέξανδρος, ‘defending men’, originally one of the epithets of Hera, and often applied as an alternative to Paris. It acquired general use at a later date as the name of the Macedonian conqueror. The immense popularity of the Alexander Romance in the Middle Ages helped to make it a favourite christian name. In England it usually appears in the French form Alysaundre, and Promptorium Parvulorum (1440) gives Alesaunder as the English for Alexander. It was often shortened to Saunder or Sander (cf. the modern Scots pet-name Sandy) and the surnames Saunder, Saunderson, Sanders, Saunders, Sander, Sanderson, as well as Alexander, testify to its popularity. It has always been a particular favourite in Scotland, where it was probably introduced by Queen Margaret, sister of Edgar Atheling, her 3rd s, being Alexander I of Scotland. The long reigns of Alexander II and III, which covered the period 1214-85, no doubt helped to consolidate its position, and ever since then it has been one of the commonest names in Scotland. In a list of inhabitants of Inverness in 1894 there were 584 Johns, and the next most frequent name was Alexander with 363. It is often shortened to Alec, Alick, or Sandy.

Alexander Curia Regis Rolls 1189, Hundred Rolls 1273, Feudal Aids 1284, 1316. Elexander, Elysandre Feudal Aids 1284. Alesaunder Promptorium Parvulorum c. 1440 Alizaunder English Register of Oseney Abbey, c. 1460 (E.E.T.S. 133-4) 1460. Alisaunder 15th-C Brut. Alisandre al. Sandre Hundred Rolls 1273. Sander, Saundre, Saunder Hundred Rolls 1273. Saunder Cocke Lorelle's Bote c. 1515.

Originally that complimentary by-name (not a nickname in the modern sense of that word), ‘helper of men,’ which was given to Greek Paris ‘for his courage in repelling robbers from the flocks. It was afterwards a regular family name of the kings of Macedon, he who gave it fame being the third who bore Italian So much revered as well as feared was this mighty conqueror, that his name still lives in proverb and song throughout the East’, Yonge. Whence Alaster, Sandy, Sawney. Cf., etymologically, Cassandra, and Alexandra.

From the Greek name Αλεξανδρος, helper of men, from αλεξω, to assist, succour, ανηρ, ανερος, ανδρος. Hence the nicknames Alec and Ellick, and the Scottish Sandy.

Greek (masculine) - A brave protector or defender.

A-leks-an'-der, one that assists men. 1. King of Macedon, commonly called the Great; son and successor of Philip. He is denominated in the prophecies of Daniel as a leopard with four wings, signifying his great strength and the rapidity of his conquests. Dan. vii. 6. And by a one-horned he-goat running over the earth so swiftly as not to touch it, attacking a ram with two horns, overthrowing him, and trampling upon him, without any being able to rescue him. Dan. viii. 4 7. In the statue beheld by Nebuchadnezzar, the belly of brass was the emblem of Alexander. He succeeded his father, A. M. 3668; and in the 20th year of his reign was chosen general of the Greeks, who marched against the Persians, He subdued the whole of Asia and the Indies with incredible success and rapidity, and at length died in the thirty-third year of his age, the victim of intemperance. 2. Alexander, the son of Simon the Cyrenian. Mark xv. 21. 3. One who was in the council which summoned Peter and John before them. Acts iv. 6. 4. A Jew of Ephesus, who addressed the rabble. Acts xix. 33. 5. An artificer in copper. 1 Tim. i. 20.

Meaning: man-defender.

A Greek name, meaning: Helper of men.

A Gaelic name: Alasdair, Allexr, Alaxandair, (1467 MS.), Middle Irish Alaxandair; from Latin Alexander, from Greek Αλέξανδρος, “defending men.” Hence Gaelic M‘Alasdair, Mac-alister; further Mac-andie (from Sandy).