Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Alessandro
BoyItalian, Greek· “defender of men”
- Meaning
- defender of men
- Origin
- Italian, Greek
- Pronunciation
- ah-leh-SAHN-droh
- Syllables
- 4
- US rank 2025
- #497
- US babies 2025
- 608
- Best rank
- #497 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Alessandro
Alessandro is an Italian and Greek name that means “defender of men”.
Alessandro is the Italian form of Alexander, from the Greek Alexandros, made from alexein, "to defend," and aner, andros, "man." Alexander the Great, king of Macedon, spread the name across the ancient world, and it was later borne by popes, saints and rulers throughout Europe. Famous Italian bearers include the physicist Alessandro Volta, whose name gave us the volt, and the novelist Alessandro Manzoni. Alessandro is warm and elegant, with a rich Italian rhythm. Sandro, Alex and Ale are common nicknames.
Popularity over time
Alessandro first appears in US Social Security records in 1933. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 28 different years, starting in 1998. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #497, and its highest count, 608 babies. Use has grown 64% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #1,656 in 1980, #939 in 2000, #677 in 2010, and #497 in 2025. Of the 12,002 US boys named Alessandro since records began, 33% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 3,133 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Ledger, Caspian, Makai, Hezekiah, and Cassian.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Alessandro ranked highest in Nevada, California, and Florida.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | #187 | 16 |
| California | #268 | 138 |
| Florida | #290 | 66 |
| Texas | #316 | 117 |
| Colorado | #329 | 19 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Alessandro is usually pronounced ah-leh-SAHN-droh, with four syllables. It has ten letters, starts with A and ends in “-ro”.
Middle names for Alessandro
A few middle names that flow with Alessandro: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Alessandro
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Lists that include Alessandro
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Alessandro mean?
Alessandro is an Italian and Greek name that means “defender of men”.
What is the origin of the name Alessandro?
Alessandro has Italian and Greek roots. Alessandro is the Italian form of Alexander, from the Greek Alexandros, made from alexein, "to defend," and aner, andros, "man." Alexander the Great, king of Macedon, spread the name across the ancient world, and it was later borne by popes, saints and rulers throughout Europe.
Is Alessandro a popular name?
Yes. Alessandro ranked #497 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Alessandro a boy or girl name?
Alessandro is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Alessandro?
Alessandro is usually pronounced ah-leh-SAHN-droh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings