Zander

Zander - A very unique male name

Zander appeared on the charts for the first time in 1998 on position #1823. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Zander and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Zander? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Zander. The baby boy name Zander was given to 774 baby boys in 2025, ranking #397 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,894 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Zander peaked in popularity 13 years ago in 2013 on position 231.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Zander, 1-5?

Zander is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Zander is currently topping the baby name charts in West Virginia at position #182 - and is the least popular in New Jersey at position #706.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Zander is where you live.

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Zander origin and meaning

Greek, via Alexander

Short form of Alexander, 'defender of men'

Zander is the clipped, X-ified short form of Alexander, used independently since the late 1990s. It peaked in 2013 during the Xander/Zander wave and has fallen since, though it remains the edgier way to get to Alexander's roots.

Attested etymology

Zander is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Zander, pop culture references for the name Zander and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Zander

We've found the following names that sound similar to Zander, sorted by popularity.

Zeandre /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Zander

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Zander a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Zander?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

ZAN-der · /ˈzændər/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Xander — The X spelling of the same short form
• Sander — The Dutch and Scandinavian short form

Nicknames: Zan

Famous bearers

None yet — the name first appears in the data in 1998, and its oldest bearers are still young.

Style

Short formModern coinage

Why parents choose it

It delivers Alexander's strength in two punchy syllables with a Z that stands out in a sea of A-names.

Worth knowing

• Xander and Zander are the same name to the ear — spelling confusion is built in.
• Often assumed to be a nickname rather than the full name.