The name Friedrich-Alexander
comes from the university's first founder Friedrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, and its benefactor Christian Frederick Charles Alexander,
Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach.
This was also the prime source of motivation for Margrave Friedrich of Brandenburg-Bayreuth who founded the Friedrichs-Universität in his principality
in 1743 with the aid of Margravess Wilhelmine and the first chancellor of the University, Daniel de Superville.