Ola is the Polish short form of Aleksandra, the Slavic variant of Alexandra. While Ola can stand alone as a given name in Poland, it more commonly serves as an affectionate diminutive for Aleksandra, one of the most enduring feminine names in the country. Etymology and Roots The origin of Ola traces back through Aleksandra to Alexandra, the feminine form of Alexander. The Greek name Alexandros means "defender of men,” from alexein (to defend) and anēr (man). This epithet appears in mythology as a Mycenaean title of the goddess Hera and as an alternate name for the Trojan princess Cassandra. In Polish coinage, Aleksandra regularly shortens to Ola, paralleling other truncations like Ola (for Aleksandra). Cultural Context In Poland, Ola is widely used without formality; it appears on birth certificates as a given name. It is one of the most common feminine nicknames in the language patterns where multisyllabic names are reduced (compare