Sander
Sander is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Defender of mankind or protector of men.
Origin and history
Sander is a Germanic short form of Alexander, widely used in Dutch, Low German, and Scandinavian languages. It means 'defender of men' or 'protector'. In the United States, it remains a rare but recognizable alternative to Alexander and Xander.
Popularity in the United States
1,588 babies in the United States have been named Sander since 1880. It ranks #3164 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1697.
States where it is most popular
- CA (46.3 %)
- NY (28 %)
- FL (18.9 %)
- TX (6.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 45 |
| 1920-1930 | 87 |
| 1930-1940 | 93 |
| 1940-1950 | 106 |
| 1950-1960 | 99 |
| 1960-1970 | 124 |
| 1970-1980 | 67 |
| 1980-1990 | 79 |
| 1990-2000 | 118 |
| 2000-2010 | 273 |
| 2010-2019 | 267 |
| 2020-2029 | 230 |
Famous people named Sander
- Sander van Doorn: DJ, Music Producer
- Sander Levin: Politician, U.S. Representative
- Sander Bergen: Physician, Academic Leader
Fun facts
- Sander originated in medieval Europe as a truncated pet form of Alexander.
- While uncommon in the US, Sander has historically been a popular given name in the Netherlands and Norway.