Alexander

Alexander is a male forename. It derives from thew Greek adjective Ἀλέξανδρος, 'defender of men', sometimes applied to the goddess Hera, and later to the legendary hero Paris. It has various forms: Alexandre in French; Alessandro or Sandro in Italian; Alysaundre in medieval French, and its earliest form in English; Alasdair in Gaelic. In Russian, the male name Sacha (or Sashe) is a common shortening.

• Saints
• Popes:
  • Alexander I, St, (c. 109–c. 116) The fifth or sixth pope after St Peter.
  • Alexander II (1061–73). Original name Anselm.
  • Alexander III (1159–81). Originally Orlando (Roland) Bandinelli.
  • Alexander IV (1254–61). Rinaldo, son of Philip count of Ienne.
  • Alexander V (1409–10). Pietro Philarghi (a Greek, formerly Peter of Candia, or Crete).
  • Alexander VI (1492–1503). A Spaniard christened Rodrigo de Borja y Borja, perhaps better known by its Italian equivalent Borgia. Notorious as a licentious Pope, father of Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia, amongst at least nine children.
  • Alexander VII (1655–67). Italian; Fabio Chigi.
  • Alexander VIII (1689–91). Pietro Ottoboni.
• Kings and rulers:
  • in ancient Greece:
    • of Epirus: Alexander I, (370 - 331 BCE) and and Alexander II (272-c.242 BCE)
    • of Macedon: Alexander I (495–450 BCE), Alexander II (370 to 368 BCE) and Alexander III, Alexander the Great
  • of Scotland: see King Alexander
  • There have also been Czars of Russia

• Alexanders
• Alexander Technique