Alexandra is a female given name of Greek origin. It serves as the first attested form for several variants, most notably the masculine name Alexander. Etymologically, the name is a compound of the Greek verb ἀλέξειν and ἀνήρ, which can be roughly translated to "defender of man" or "protector of man."
The name was historically used as one of the epithets for the Greek goddess Hera. In this context, it is often interpreted to mean "one who comes to save warriors." The earliest recorded form of the name appears in Mycenaean Greek, written in the Linear B syllabic script.
Alexandra and its masculine counterpart are common names across various regions, including Greece and countries where Germanic, Romance, and Slavic languages are spoken.