Name day

Alexander: Name Day and Patron Saint

Alexander keeps the name day on 23 November, or 6 December on the Old Calendar: the feast of St Alexander Nevsky.

By Greek custom the name day is 30 August: St Alexander of Constantinople.

Patron saint: St Alexander Nevsky
New Calendar: 23 November
Old Calendar: 6 December
Next name day: 23 November 2026 (New Calendar) · 6 December 2026 (Old Calendar)
Greek custom: 30 August: St Alexander of Constantinople
In the feast calendar: The feasts of November · The feasts of December

The patron saint: St Alexander Nevsky

Kept on 23 November, or 6 December on the Old Calendar · Repose and burial (1263)

Alexander, son of Grand Prince Yaroslav, was born in 1219 (some sources say 1220/21) at Pereslavl and became Prince of Novgorod while still young. He was loved for his mercy to the poor and the hungry. In 1240, after tearful prayer in Novgorod’s Cathedral of Holy Wisdom, he defeated the Swedes on the Neva, and the holy martyrs Boris and Gleb were seen coming to his aid. From that battle he took the name Nevsky. In 1242 he turned back the Teutonic knights on the ice of Lake Peipus. Facing the overwhelming power of the Horde, he chose humility and patient diplomacy. He traveled to the khan again and again to win mercy for his people and protect the Church. Returning from his last journey, he fell ill, took the monastic schema with the name Alexis, and reposed on 14 November 1263. At his burial he received the prayer of absolution with his own outstretched hand.

What the faithful pray for

courage, wisdom and steadfastness
protection from enemies
the peaceful end of conflicts
firmness in the Orthodox faith
help to fulfill one’s calling
the safety of soldiers and their families

Protection

soldiers in service
the homeland from invasion
the Orthodox faith

Miracles

Before the Battle of the Neva (1240), the warrior Pelgusius saw the holy martyrs Boris and Gleb in a boat, hastening to help ‘our kinsman Alexander’. (source)
At his funeral, when the Metropolitan’s steward went to place the prayer of absolution in his hand, the dead prince stretched out his hand himself, took the scroll, and folded his hands again. (source)

Read the life of St Alexander Nevsky

Other saints named Alexander

St Alexander of Constantinople

Kept on 30 August, or 12 September on the Old Calendar · Sts Alexander, John and Paul the New, Patriarchs of Constantinople

The Patriarch of Constantinople at the time of the First Council, whose prayer stopped the heretic Arius.

St Alexander of Svir

Kept on 30 August, or 12 September on the Old Calendar · Venerable Alexander of Svir

The hermit of the Svir river to whom the Holy Trinity appeared as three angels.

Venerable Alexander

Kept on 20 April, or 3 May on the Old Calendar

St Alexander

Kept on 16 May, or 29 May on the Old Calendar

Alexander in other languages

Language	The name	Short forms
English	Alexander, Alexandre, Alasdair, Alistair, Alastair	Alex, Alec, Xander, Zander, Sandy, Lex
Greek	Αλέξανδρος, Alexandros, Aleksandros	Αλέκος, Αλέξης, Άλεξ, Alekos, Alexis
Russian	Александр, Aleksandr, Alexandr, Aleksander	Саша, Сашка, Шура, Саня, Санёк, Алик, Sasha, Sashka, Shura, Sanya, Sanek, Alik
Ukrainian	Олександр, Oleksandr, Oleksander	Олесь, Сашко, Oles, Sashko
Belarusian	Аляксандр, Aliaksandr
Bulgarian	Александър, Aleksandar	Сашо, Sasho
Serbian	Александар, Aleksandar	Саша, Аца, Saša, Aca
Romanian	Alexandru	Sandu, Alex, Sașa
Georgian	ალექსანდრე, Aleksandre	Sandro
Arabic	إسكندر, Iskandar, Eskandar, Alexandre
Spanish	Alejandro
Italian	Alessandro
German	Alexander
Polish	Aleksander

An icon for Alexander

We don't carry an icon of St Alexander Nevsky yet. Ask for it below, and we will write to you when it is in.

Closest to it

For every name: the Guardian Angel, given at baptism

Folding diptych
St Nicholas the Wonderworker & Guardian Angel
For every name: the Guardian Angel given at baptism, with St Nicholas~~$99~~$69

Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you: Consecration, $49.

A name-day gift for Alexander

Name-Day Gift Set ~~$213~~$149

A patron saint's folding diptych chosen by first name, a stainless steel crucifix and a prayer rope, in a gift box with a card giving the saint's life and feast day.

The St Nicholas the Wonderworker & Guardian Angel Folding Diptych is chosen, for the Guardian Angel every Orthodox Christian receives at baptism, and the name is filled in.

Choose the gift set for Alexander More name-day gift ideas

Questions

When is Alexander’s name day?

Alexander keeps the name day on 23 November on the New Calendar and on 6 December on the Old Calendar, the feast of St Alexander Nevsky. By Greek custom it is kept on 30 August: St Alexander of Constantinople.

Who is the patron saint of Alexander?

St Alexander Nevsky. Alexander, son of Grand Prince Yaroslav, was born in 1219 (some sources say 1220/21) at Pereslavl and became Prince of Novgorod while still young.

How is Alexander written in other languages?

Greek: Αλέξανδρος (Alexandros), Russian: Александр (Aleksandr), Ukrainian: Олександр (Oleksandr), Belarusian: Аляксандр (Aliaksandr), Bulgarian: Александър (Aleksandar) and Serbian: Александар (Aleksandar). Every form of the name keeps the same saint.

What is a good name-day gift for Alexander?

We don’t carry an icon of St Alexander Nevsky yet, and you can ask for one on this page. Every Orthodox Christian has a Guardian Angel from baptism, so the Name-Day Gift Set ($149) with the Guardian Angel diptych is always fitting.

More about name days

Name Days Explained: What They Are, How Families Keep Them, and Gifts
A name day is the feast of the saint whose name you carry. Here is how to find yours on either calendar, how Greek and Russian families keep it, and what to give.
Orthodox Patron Saint: How to Find Yours (by Name, Day or Choice)
Your Orthodox patron saint is the saint whose name you were given at baptism. Here is how to find yours by name, by the day of your birth or baptism, or by choice, and how to keep the name day.
Find another name