Alexandru is the Romanian form of the name Alexander. Common diminutives are Alecu, Alex, and Sandu.
Origin
Etymologically, the name is derived from the Greek "Αλέξανδρος" (Aléxandros), meaning "defending men" or "protector of men", a compound of the verb "ἀλέξω" (alexō), "to ward off, to avert, to defend" and the noun "ἀνδρός" (andros), genitive of "ἀνήρ" (anēr), "man". 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.
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. 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 Lăpuşneanu 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 Suţu (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 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 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 Marin Alexandru Mironescu Alexandru Moghioroș Alexandru Ioan Morțun Alexandru Moşanu 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 Sahia Alexandru Sătmăreanu Alexandru Săvulescu (architect) Alexandru Șerbănescu Alexandru Șoltoianu 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