Baby names
The name Alessandro is a boy's name of Italian origin meaning "defending men". For anyone seeking a more exotic and unusual version of Alexander, this is a real winner. Notable namesakes include the great Italian opera composer Scarlatti and the influential physicist Alessandro Volta, known primarily for the invention of the battery you use every day--as well as the contemporary hunky actor Alessandro Nivola. Appealing short forms are Alessio and Sandro (as in Botticelli).
