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Name Lineage

    The first name Sander

    A boy’s name from Greek.

    Pronounced /ˈsændɚ/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Greek origin

    A diminutive of the male given name Alexander, from Ancient Greek.

    Sander is a short form of

    .

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 3 boys were named Sander, making it the 5,137th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2010, with 6 births (#2,941).

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    44
    babies named Sander, 1996–2025
    #5,137
    rank in 2025
    2010
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Sander with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Sander at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 41 boys born in the United States were named Sander, the 3,030th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2020, when 46 were.

    02550 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    1,667
    babies named Sander since 1880
    #3,030
    rank in 2025
    2020
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Sander

    33 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Sander Boschker
      Dutch association football player (born 1970)
    • Sander Westerveld
      Dutch association football player (born 1974)
    • Sander van Doorn
      Dutch DJ and record producer, born 1979
    • Sander van Gessel
      Dutch association football player, born 1976
    • Sander Puri
      Estonian association football player (born 1988)
    • Sander Gillé
      Belgian tennis player (born 1991)
    • Sander Levin
      American politician (born 1931)
    • Sander Armée
      Belgian road cyclist, born 1985
    • Sander Arends
      Dutch tennis player (born 1991)
    • Siim-Sander Vene
      Estonian basketball player (born 1990)
    • Sander Post
      Estonian footballer (born 1984)
    • Sander Baart
      Dutch field hockey player (1988-)

    More Greek boys’ names

    All 347 names of Greek origin

    Questions

    What is the origin of the name Sander?
    Sander comes from Greek.
    How popular is the name Sander?
    In 2025, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Sander, ranking 5,137th. Its peak was 2010, with 6 births.
    Is Sander a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 95% of the 1,667 US babies named Sander since 1880 were boys.
    When was Sander most popular?
    2020 in the United States, when 46 babies were named Sander, its highest rank at 2,722nd.
    How do you pronounce Sander?
    Sander is /ˈsændɚ/, 2 syllables.
    Is Sander also a surname?
    Yes. Sander is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.