Xander
Xander was the 259th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,335 babies. Its best year was 2017, when it ranked 164th with 2,414 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 53 places. More babies were named Xander in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning defender of men (short form of Alexander) · Greek
Say it ZAN-der /ˈzændər/
- Rank in 2025
- #259 boys, down 72 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,335boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20172,414 babies
- Total since 1880
- 40,349babies recorded
What does the name Xander mean?
Xander is a short form of Alexander, made from its last part and spelled with an initial X; Wiktionary and Wikipedia both describe it this way, and it is said ZAN-der. Alexander comes from Greek alexein, 'to defend', and aner, 'man', so 'defender of men', according to DMNES. Zander is another spelling, and Sander and Sandro are the equivalent short forms in Dutch and Italian.
ἀλέξω (Ancient Greek, “I defend”)ἀνήρ (Ancient Greek, “man”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Alexander, Zander, Sander, Alex, Sandro.
See also: Greek names, names that mean protector.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Xander', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Xander', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Alexander', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
Xander popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 68 since 2004.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #259 | 1,335 |
| 2020 | #187 | 2,057 |
| 2010 | #253 | 1,357 |
| 2000 | #929 | 165 |
| 1990 | #9,459 | 5 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Xander, counting every spelling?
Xander is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #269 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #259 for Xander on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,360 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xander | 1,335 | #259 | 8,636 |
| Xzander | 25 | #4,243 | 130 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Xander?
1,335 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Xander (0.37 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Xander born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 6 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Xander.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Xander?
About 39,900 people born in the US named Xander are alive today, with a median age of 11; half are between 6 and 17. That makes Xander a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Xander by state
How common Xander was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Rhode Island (2.6×), New Mexico (2.4×), West Virginia (2.0×), Hawaii (1.9×), Nevada (1.8×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in District of Columbia, Montana, Wyoming.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Xander: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Xander, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Xander · Sibling names for Xander
Xander is also a nickname for Alexander.
Questions about the name Xander
What does Xander mean?
Xander means “defender of men (short form of Alexander)” (Greek origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Xander?
Xander was the 259th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,335 babies. Its best year was 2017, when it ranked 164th with 2,414 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 53 places. More babies were named Xander in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Xander a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Xander in the US.
Where is Xander most popular?
In 2021–2025, Xander was most common in Rhode Island (2.58 per 1,000 boys), followed by New Mexico and West Virginia.