One who comes to save warriors

Bloganuary writing prompt

Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc.

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I haven’t written for the last two days. I have been giving myself a chance to decompress from the new year, getting back into work and just processing life. However, the prompt today is one of my favorite topics. When I was younger, I discovered names had meaning and hold power over their owners. This force drives how I name the characters in my books and short stories. 

The name Alexandra is a difficult, beautiful one. I’ve already had one social media fight with a person when I posted what my name meant. The Etymology of Alexandra is Greek, alexein; meaning ‘to defend’, and ἀνήρ anēr; GEN ἀνδρός, andros; meaning ‘man. Alexandra, being the feminine counterpart of Alexander, is sometimes argued to lose its power. However I find that to be nonsense.  

  So let’s break down the name Alexandra:

1. Alexandra is one of the epithet given to the Greek Goddess Hera, meaning “one who comes to save warriors”.
   
2. “Defender of man” or “Protector of man”
   
3. To have a name that holds this kind of meaning takes a home who will be powerful, confident, and strong. She will defend and protect those she cares about.
   
   

Discovering the biblical meaning of the name Alexandra becomes more difficult as it does not explicitly mention the female name, only its male counterpart, Alexander. However, some scholars have broken it down into how the two names can relate to each other. The name is associated with an individual who will fiercely defend her beliefs. She will be resolute as she finds various ways to resist radical changes from different cultures that threaten her identity and what she stands for. She will do well at her craft. Second Timothy four referenced her male counterpart as a metalworker. She is resourceful, industrious, and not afraid to work hard. 

I don’t believe my mom thought of all of this when naming me. She ended up raising a strong will daughter who will fight in what she believes in. I defend my children and my students tooth and nail if they are deserving of my protection. And I have never had an employer complain about my work ethic. If anything, I am that one who is called upon because I go the extra step. 

But the meaning that rings true to me the most is “one who comes to save warriors”. If you have not read about how my husband and I found our way back to each other, you should. Be prepared. It is full of triggers. You may want some tissues handy because he was close to becoming a static of 22 veterans a day.