National Alexandra Day – June 7, 2024

History of National Alexandra Day

Alexandra is the English feminine version of the Greek Alexandros, although Germans also use it, Hungarians, Scandinavians, Slavs, Spanish, and many more groups. Alexandra, in other words, is a pretty Cosmopolitan name. Aside from Old Testament Hebrew names and ancient Greek legendary names, Alexandra has one of the Western culture’s oldest and most enduring origins. All of the boy Alexanders and all of the female Alexandras and the countless name variants that have emerged over time owe their names to one person: Alexander the Great.

Alexander the Great ruled the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. Many historians still regard Alexander as the most outstanding military leader, some 2,400 years later. Alexander spent twelve years expanding his kingdom east to the Himalayas, destroying the whole Persian Empire, and spreading a new Hellenistic (Greek) civilization over the modern Middle East, portions of India and Asia, and Egypt. According to some, Alexander the Great never lost a fight, but his life was sadly cut short at the age of 33 due to poisoning. We’re left to wonder what else he could have done if he had persisted. His mythical exploits were so well-known in the ancient world that subsequent Roman Emperors sought to follow him or shape their legacies after him.

The name Alexander is derived from the Greek for ‘defending mankind.’ From Antiquity to the Middle Ages and contemporary times, stories of Alexander the Great’s famed military wars were repeated. This has contributed to the survival of the name throughout the Western World. It’s no surprise that this name has so many versions! Alexandra is a popular feminine form in the following countries: Hungary, Chile, Catalonia, Canada, and the U.S. It is also ranked in the top 100 in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Australia, England/Wales, Spain, and Norway. This list should tell you something about Alexandra’s endurance and beauty.