Alessandra
Alessandra Corine Ambrósio (born 11 April 1981) is a Brazilian model and actress renowned for her long association with Victoria's Secret.[1] Born in Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul, to parents of Italian, Polish, and Portuguese descent who owned a petrol station, Ambrósio enrolled in modeling classes at age 12 and debuted professionally in the late 1990s.[2] She gained international prominence as a Victoria's Secret Angel, walking in their fashion shows annually from 2000 to 2018 and serving as the inaugural spokesmodel for the PINK sub-brand, which targeted younger consumers with casual apparel and lingerie.[3][4] Ambrósio has appeared on over 70 magazine covers, launched her own swimwear line under the Alessandra Ambrosio by Sais label in 2004, and ventured into acting with roles in films such as Casino Royale (2006) and television appearances.[5][6] Beyond runway work, she has built a business portfolio including endorsements and entrepreneurial efforts, while facing limited public scrutiny primarily over early-career discussions of her physique in the context of industry body standards, which she has countered by advocating balanced fitness routines.[7] In 2025, Ambrósio returned to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show stage for a milestone appearance, underscoring her enduring influence in fashion.[8]Etymology and Origins
Linguistic Derivation
Alessandra derives from the Ancient Greek name Alexandra (Ἀλεξάνδρα), the feminine form of Alexandros (Ἀλέξανδρος), which combines the verb aléxō (ἀλέξω), meaning "to defend" or "to ward off," with anḗr (ἀνήρ), denoting "man" or "warrior." This etymological structure yields the core meaning "defender of men" or "protector of mankind."[9] The Greek roots reflect classical linguistic elements emphasizing protection in a martial or societal context, as seen in the name's association with figures like Alexander the Great, whose name popularized the form across Indo-European languages. In its transition to Romance languages, Alexandra passed through Latin as Alexandra, retaining the Greek components while adapting to Vulgar Latin phonology.[10] The Italian variant Alessandra emerged as the feminine counterpart to Alessandro, incorporating Italic sound shifts such as the assimilation of the intervocalic /d/ to /s/ and vowel harmony typical of medieval Italian vernaculars.[9] This derivation aligns with broader patterns in Italian onomastics, where foreign names were indigenized by suffixation (-a for feminine) and consonantal softening, distinguishing it from cognates like French Alexandra or Spanish Alejandra.[11] The name's pronunciation in standard Italian is approximately /a.lesˈsɛn.dra/, underscoring its Romance evolution from Hellenistic origins.[10]Historical Roots
The name Alessandra, as the Italian feminine equivalent of Alexandra, gained traction in Italy during the late medieval and early Renaissance eras, reflecting a broader revival of classical Greek-derived names amid humanist scholarship. Its roots connect indirectly to ancient precedents like the epithet for Hera meaning "defender of warriors," but the form Alessandra specifically proliferated in Florentine and Tuscan noble circles by the 15th century.[12] A prominent early bearer was Alessandra Macinghi Strozzi (c. 1407–1471), a Florentine merchant-class woman whose 73 surviving letters to her exiled sons detail family finances, political intrigue, and daily life under Medici dominance; these documents, first edited and published in the 19th century, represent key primary sources for understanding patrician women's roles in Renaissance Italy.[13][14] Strozzi's usage underscores the name's association with resilience, as she navigated exile, property management, and arranged marriages for her children following her husband Matteo's banishment in 1434.[15] Subsequent historical records show Alessandra appearing among Italian nobility and literati through the Renaissance, often linked to families like the Strozzi who valued names evoking protection (alexō "to defend" + anēr "man"). By the 16th century, it had established itself in baptismal and civic documents across Tuscany and beyond, though exact earliest instances prior to Strozzi remain sparsely attested in surviving archives.[9]Cultural Significance and Usage
Popularity Trends
In Italy, the name Alessandra has maintained moderate popularity, consistently ranking within the top 100 female names in recent years according to national birth data. It stood at #69 in 2021 with a usage rate of 0.270%, slipping to #78 in 2022 (0.240%) and #82 in 2023 (0.222%), indicating a gradual decline amid competition from shorter or more modern variants.[16]| Year | Rank | Percent Used |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 0.270 |
| 2022 | 78 | 0.240 |
| 2023 | 82 | 0.222 |
Geographic Distribution
The name Alessandra exhibits the highest incidence in Brazil, where approximately 269,807 individuals bear it, reflecting the substantial Italian immigration to southern regions like São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[20] Italy follows with around 198,267 bearers, constituting roughly 0.26% to 0.39% of the population depending on the dataset, particularly concentrated in northern and central regions with historical ties to Renaissance-era naming conventions.[20][21] In Europe beyond Italy, Switzerland hosts about 2,047 instances, largely in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, while smaller clusters appear in France, Germany, and Portugal due to cross-border migration and linguistic affinities.[20] The United States records 5,232 to 3,269 bearers, primarily among Italian-American communities in states like New York, California, and New Jersey, where the name has maintained moderate popularity, peaking at around the 546th rank nationally in 2015.[20][22][17] Elsewhere, the name's presence correlates with Italian diaspora networks, including Argentina (with historical waves of 2 million Italian emigrants between 1876 and 1930) and Canada, though comprehensive global censuses are limited, leading to variances in estimates from aggregated genealogical databases.[20]| Country | Approximate Incidence |
|---|---|
| Brazil | 269,807 |
| Italy | 198,267 |
| United States | 5,232 |
| Switzerland | 2,047 |