Russian, Polish, Serbian and Bulgarian feminine form of Alexander. From the Greek name Alexandros, which meant 'defending men' from Greek 'alexein' – 'to defend, help' and 'aner' – 'man' (genitive 'andros'). Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia, is the most famous bearer of this name. In the 4th century BC he built a huge empire out of Greece, Egypt, Persia, and parts of India. This was also the name of emperors of Russia and kings of Scotland and Yugoslavia. Also, Sir Alexander MacKenzie was an explorer of the north and west of Canada in the 18th century.