Alyosha is a diminutive of Aleksey, itself a Russian form of Alexis. Alexis was originally a name given to men in ancient Greece. Today this Greek name is a popular name given to more girls than boys. This name is a derivative of the name Alexander which means helper of people. The name Alexander is a General European name that is derived from the Old Greek name 'Alexandros', which is derived from the words, 'Alexein', which means 'to ward off or to defend' and 'andors or aner', which means man. It means defender, helper, guardian of people. In other words it is a name which signifies strength or protection. It was a name given to one of the greatest kings on Earth, Alexander The Great.