Aleksandra — Name Day, Meaning & Origin

Female Polish given name · rank 22 among female names (2024)

A classic Polish female name of Greek origin meaning "defender of people".

Pronunciation

/a.lɛk.ˈsan.dra/ · ah-lek-SAHN-drah

Meaning

Aleksandra is the feminine counterpart of Aleksander, understood as "defender of men" or "she who protects people". The name evokes strength, courage and a protective spirit.

Origin & history

The name has ancient Greek roots and comes from antiquity, where Aleksandra was among other things an epithet of the goddess Hera. It reached Poland through Christianity and broader European culture, and grew especially popular in modern times. Throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries it has remained one of the most frequently given Polish female names.

Etymology

The name combines the Greek elements aléxō ("to defend, ward off") and anḗr, andrós ("man, person"), yielding the sense "defender of people". The same root underlies the masculine name Aleksander.

Declension (Polish cases)

Nominative	Aleksandra
Genitive	Aleksandry
Dative	Aleksandrze
Accusative	Aleksandrę
Instrumental	Aleksandrą
Locative	Aleksandrze
Vocative	Aleksandro

Name day (imieniny)

In Poland, Aleksandra celebrates its name day on 20 March, 18 May.

Diminutives

Ola, Olka, Oleńka, Olcia, Aleksandrka, Aleks.

Forms in other languages

Equivalents in other languages include Alexandra (English, German, French), Alessandra (Italian), Alejandra (Spanish), Oleksandra (Ukrainian) and the Russian and Serbian Aleksandra.

Notable people named Aleksandra

Aleksandra Piłsudska — Independence activist and second wife of Józef Piłsudski.

Aleksandra Śląska — Acclaimed Polish stage and film actress of the later twentieth century.

Aleksandra Mirosław — Polish sport climber and Olympic champion in speed climbing.

Popularity

Aleksandra has for years stayed among the very top names given to baby girls in Poland.