Alessandra is the Italian feminine form of Alexander, from the Greek Alexandros, and means "defender of the people", from alexein, "to defend", and andros, "man". Brazilian model Alessandra Ambrosio is its best-known bearer in the United States. The name has been in the American top 1000 all century, rising from number 672 in 2000 to a peak of number 276 in 2015, and it ranks number 443 in 2025.