Lysander

Lysander is the Latinized form of Greek Lysandros, combining elements for release or loosening and man. It is commonly interpreted as liberator of men. A Spartan naval commander bore the name in ancient history, giving it a documented setting beyond its later use in literature.

Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream made Lysander familiar as one of the young lovers caught up in the play’s magical confusion. That literary association offers a very different setting from the ancient commander. Lysandros preserves the Greek ending, while Lisandro is a related form in Spanish and Portuguese. Alexander may sound similar, but its first element and meaning are different.