Alexandru is a masculine given name, the Romanian form of the English name Alexander, derived from the Latin Alexander and the Ancient Greek Aléxandros (Αλέξανδρος), meaning "defender of mankind". Alexandru is a relatively popular name in Romania and Moldova, deeply rooted in cultural tradition and even reflected in place names such as Alexăndreni.
The name Alexandru also gives rise to patronymic surnames, such as Alexandrescu. Origin Etymologically, the name is derived from the Greek "Αλέξανδρος" (Aléxandros), meaning "defending men" ἀλέξανδρος, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus Digital Library or "protector of men", a compound of the verb "ἀλέξω" (alexō), "to ward off, to avert, to defend"ἀλέξω, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus Digital Library and the noun "ἀνδρός" (andros), genitive of "ἀνήρ" (anēr), "man".ἀνήρ, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus Digital Library It is an example of the widespread motif of Greek (or Indo-European more generally) names expressing "battle-prowess", in this case the ability to withstand or push back an enemy battle line.
The earliest attested form of the name is the Mycenaean Greek feminine noun a-re-ka-sa-da-ra, (transliterated as Alexandra), written in Linear B syllabic script.a-re-ka-sa-da-ra (Alexandra) Palaeolexicon, Word study tool of ancient languagesMycenaean (Linear B) – English GlossaryThe Mycenaean World, John Chadwick, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1976, 1999
The name was one of the titles ("epithets") given to the Greek goddess Hera and as such is usually taken to mean "one who comes to save warriors". In the Iliad, the character Paris is known also as Alexander.Ἀλέξανδρος, Georg Autenrieth, A Homeric Dictionary, on Perseus Digital Library The name's popularity was spread throughout the Greek world by the military conquests of King Alexander III, commonly known as "Alexander the Great".
Rulers (in chronological order) Alexandru cel Bun (d.1432), Prince of Moldavia 1400–1432 Alexandru I Aldea (1397–1436), Prince of Wallachia 1431–1436 Alexandru Lăpușneanu, Voivode of Moldavia (1499–1568) Alexandru Lăpușneanu, Prince of Moldavia 1552–1561 and 1564–1568 Alexandru II Mircea, Hospodar of Wallachia 1568–1574 and 1574–1577 Alexandru Ghica, Prince of Wallachia 1766–1768 Alexandru Suțu (1758–1821), Prince of Moldavia and Prince of Wallachia Alexandru II Ghica (1796–1862), Prince of Wallachia Alexandru Ioan Cuza (1820–1873), Prince of Moldavia, Domnitor of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia 1859–1866
Prime ministers Alexandru Athanasiu Alexandru Averescu Alexandru G. Golescu Alexandru Marghiloman Alexandru Munteanu Alexandru Vaida-Voevod
Religious leaders Alexandru Sterca-Șuluțiu Alexandru Șafran Alexandru Todea
Other people Alexandru Antemireanu Alexandru Antoniuc Alexandru Apolzan Alexandru Balaban Alexandru Baltagă Alexandru Batcu Alexandru Bogdan-Pitești Alexandru Borza Alexandru Candiano-Popescu Alexandru Cantacuzino (militant) Alexandru Cantacuzino (minister) Alexandru Caraman Alexandru Cecal Alexandru Ștefan Catargiu Alexandru Cernat Alexandru Ciucurencu Alexandru Ciura Alexandru Ciurcu Alexandru Claudian Alexandru C. Constantinescu Alexandru Dabija Alexandru Darie Alexandru Davila Alexandru Dimca Alexandru Dincă (journalist) Alexandru Dobriceanu Alexandru Dobrogeanu-Gherea Alexandru Dragomir Alexandru Epureanu Alecu Filipescu-Vulpea Alexandru Fölker Alexandru Frim Alexandru Froda Alexandru Gațcan Alexandru George Alexandru Gheorghiaș Alexandru Ghiban Alexandru Ghika Alexandru Giugaru Alexandru Golban Alexandru Graur Alexandru Greab Alexandru Groapă Alexandru Hrisoverghi Alexandru Ioanițiu Alexandru Koller Alexandru Leșco Alexandru Ioan Lupaș Alexandru Macedonski Alexandru Mandy Alexandru Marin (disambiguation) Alexandru Mironescu Alexandru Moghioroș Alexandru Ioan Morțun Alexandru Moșanu Alexandru Nicolschi Alexandru Odobescu Alexandru Orăscu Alexandru Paleologu Alexandru Papadopol Alexandru Papadopol-Calimah Alexandru Papiu Ilarian Alexandru Pastia Alexandru Pesamosca Alexandru Philippide Alexandru A. Philippide Alexandru Plămădeală Alexandru Popovici (Moldovan footballer) Alexandru Adrian Popovici Alexandru Proca Alexandru Repan Alexandru Rogobete Alexandru Sahia Alexandru Sătmăreanu Alexandru Săvulescu (architect) Alexandru Șerbănescu Alexandru Șoltoianu Alexandru Stănică Alexandru Sturdza Alexandru Suciu Alexandru A. Suțu Alexandru Terheș Alexandru Toma Alexandru Tudor-Miu Alexandru Tudose Alexandru Tyroler Alexandru Usatiuc-Bulgăr Alexandru Vulpe Alexandru Dimitrie Xenopol Alexandru Zaharescu Alexandru Zub
People with the surname Constantin Alexandru (1953–2014), Romanian sport wrestler Iliaș Alexandru, Ruler of Moldova Ioan Alexandru (1941–2000), Romanian poet and politician Maria Alexandru (1939–2024), Romanian table tennis player Marian Alexandru (born 1977), Romanian footballer Nicoleta Alexandru (born 1968), Romanian singer Sadie Alexandru (born 1977), American actress and model Valentin Alexandru (born 1991), Romanian footballer Vasile Alexandru (born 1935), Romanian footballer
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