Alexandra
Say it: al-ig-ZAN-dra
GirlMeans usually explained as "protector of men"9 letters4 syllables
#141
in Ireland (2025)
32
babies in 2025
#67
best rank (1998)
2,342
babies since 1964
Down 63
10-year rank change
Alexandra through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | #141 |
| 2024 | 32 | #145 |
| 2023 | 32 | #150 |
| 2022 | 44 | #118 |
| 2021 | 52 | #108 |
| 2020 | 47 | #109 |
| 2019 | 65 | #88 |
| 2018 | 51 | #115 |
| 2017 | 54 | #111 |
| 2016 | 64 | #91 |
| 2015 | 82 | #78 |
| 2014 | 82 | #83 |
| 2013 | 74 | #90 |
| 2012 | 62 | #105 |
| 2011 | 71 | #97 |
| 2010 | 77 | #89 |
| 2009 | 92 | #78 |
| 2008 | 73 | #92 |
| 2007 | 98 | #67 |
| 2006 | 75 | #79 |
| 2005 | 69 | #81 |
| 2004 | 84 | #68 |
| 2003 | 59 | #88 |
| 2002 | 63 | #78 |
| 2001 | 76 | #68 |
| 2000 | 50 | #87 |
| 1999 | 46 | #91 |
| 1998 | 57 | #67 |
| 1997 | 38 | #132 |
| 1996 | 55 | #98 |
| 1995 | 40 | #128 |
| 1994 | 41 | #130 |
| 1993 | 26 | #172 |
| 1992 | 32 | #159 |
| 1991 | 34 | #147 |
| 1990 | 20 | #203 |
| 1989 | 21 | #200 |
| 1988 | 18 | #222 |
| 1987 | 10 | #310 |
| 1986 | 6 | #388 |
| 1985 | 10 | #306 |
| 1984 | 13 | #280 |
| 1983 | 10 | #313 |
| 1982 | 13 | #286 |
| 1981 | 11 | #313 |
| 1980 | 7 | #370 |
| 1979 | 4 | #467 |
| 1978 | 13 | #281 |
| 1977 | 12 | #283 |
| 1976 | 13 | #263 |
| 1975 | 12 | #274 |
| 1974 | 13 | #271 |
| 1973 | 13 | #271 |
| 1972 | 16 | #232 |
| 1971 | 12 | #257 |
| 1970 | 7 | #307 |
| 1969 | 7 | #303 |
| 1968 | 14 | #222 |
| 1967 | 11 | #228 |
| 1966 | 6 | #288 |
| 1965 | 10 | #227 |
| 1964 | 11 | #222 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Alexandra mean?
Usually explained as "protector of men"
Greek, the feminine of Alexander, from alexein (to defend) and anēr (man).
Say it right
aligZANdra
Some people say al-ig-ZAHN-dra, with a longer middle vowel.
The story of Alexandra
Alexandra is the feminine form of Alexander. Both come from Greek, joining the verb alexein, to defend or ward off, with anēr, man. That is why the name is usually explained as “protector of men”. In fact the feminine form is recorded first: it appears in Mycenaean Greek, written in the ancient Linear B script, and it was also a title of the goddess Hera.
In the English-speaking world the name was helped along by Queen Alexandra, the Danish princess who married the future King Edward VII in 1863.
Alexandra has been given in Ireland throughout the CSO records, though mostly in small numbers until the 1990s. It reached number 67 in 1998. In 2007 it matched that rank, and that year’s 98 girls are the most it has had. It did better in Northern Ireland, where its best place was number 45 in 1997.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Alexandra (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Alexandra
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
AlexLexieSandra
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandra | 32 | 2,342 |
In Northern Ireland
#290 in 2025 with 5 babies. Best rank #45 (1997); 758 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.