Alexander comes from the Greek Alexandros, built from words meaning "to defend" and "man," so it's usually translated as "defender of the people." Alexander the Great carried it across much of the ancient world, and it has stayed in use ever since in nearly every European language, from Scotland to Russia.
What makes Alexander unusual is how many ways it can be shortened. Take the front and you get Alex, Alec or Al. Take the middle and you get Lex or Xander. Take the end and you get Sandy in Scotland, Sander in the Netherlands and Scandinavia, and Sandro in Italy. Russian goes its own way with Sasha and Shura, both pet forms of Aleksandr. Each version has its own feel: Alex is easygoing, Alec a little old-school, Xander bold and modern, Sasha soft and cosmopolitan.
The nicknames below are grouped by the part of the name they come from, followed by Alexander's forms in other languages. That range is part of Alexander's appeal: a child can try out Alex, Xander or Sasha and settle on whichever fits.
From the front: Alex, Alec and Al
The most familiar short forms keep the first syllables.
- AlexThe everyday default. Easygoing, and used for every gender.
- AlecA slightly more traditional feel. Alec Baldwin was born Alexander.
- AlekThe K spelling, common in Eastern Europe.
- AlShort and old-fashioned. Shared with Albert and Alfred.
From the middle: Lex, Xander and Zander
Bolder nicknames built around the X in the middle of the name.
- LexSharp and strong, built on the "lex" sound.
- XanderThe second half of the name. Bold and modern.
- ZanderXander spelled the way it sounds.
- XanThe shortest cut. Unusual and a little mysterious.
From the end: Sandy and Sander
Traditional short forms that keep the last part of the name.
- SandyA traditional Scottish nickname for Alexander.
- SanderA Dutch and Scandinavian short form.
From other languages
Alexander is used across Europe and beyond, and many languages have their own pet forms.
- SashaThe Russian pet form of Aleksandr, now used internationally for every gender.
- SaschaThe German spelling of Sasha.
- ShuraAnother Russian pet form of Aleksandr and Aleksandra.
- SandroAn Italian short form of Alessandro.
- AlastairThe Scottish form, from the Gaelic Alasdair.
- IskanderThe form used in Persian, Arabic and Turkish, from the Greek Alexandros.
Choosing an Alexander nickname
- Alex is by far the most common, so choose Xander, Lex or Sasha if you want him to be the only one in his class.
- Try it with the last name. Xander and Lex are punchy, while Alec and Sandy sound softer.
- Sasha and Alex are used for every gender, which some families love and others would rather avoid.
- If you like Sandy but worry it sounds dated, Sander and Sandro keep the same sound with a more modern edge.
Common questions
What is the most common nickname for Alexander?
Alex is by far the most common. Alec, Xander and Zander are the next most familiar in English.
Why is Sasha a nickname for Alexander?
Sasha is the traditional Russian pet form of Aleksandr (and Aleksandra). It spread well beyond Russia and is now used as a name on its own.
Is Sandy a nickname for Alexander?
Yes. Sandy has long been a Scottish nickname for Alexander, built from the end of the name.
What does Alexander mean?
It comes from the Greek Alexandros, from words meaning "to defend" and "man," and is usually translated as "defender of the people."