Zander Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Zander is derived from the Greek name Alexandros, meaning 'defender of the people.' It evolved through the Latin form Alexander before becoming popular in its modern form. The name is associated with strength and creativity, and it has no direct biblical relevance.
The name Zander is most popular in Nevada, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Zander has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Zander' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6977th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6464th out of 6773 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6911th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 371st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 274th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 24909th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 23432nd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Zander' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Zander"
Pronunciation
/ˈzændər/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
Zander is a diminutive form of the name Alexander, which means 'defender of the people.' The name Alexander itself comes from the Greek name Alexandros.
Meaning
defender of the people
Language Evolution
Alexandros (Ancient Greek), Alexander (Latin), Zander (Modern English)
Historical Usage
Zander gained popularity in the late 20th century as a modern and trendy variant of Alexander, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Alex, Xander, Sandy
Modern Popularity & Image
Zander is perceived as a strong and contemporary name, often associated with creativity and uniqueness.
Famous People
Zander Lombard (South African golfer), Zander Harris (fictional character from the TV series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer')
Explore More Zander Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Zander"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Zander"
"Zander" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 6977th of 7545 | 9 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 6464th of 6773 | 6 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 6911th of 16616 | 80 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 371st of 24088 | 12,369 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 274th of 23106 | 15,468 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 24909th of 35406 | 21 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 23432nd of 30306 | 15 |
Regional Popularity of "Zander" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
5.83% 267th/4582 |
9.14% 472nd/5164 |
6.00% 439th/7313 |
5.19% 387th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
5.20% 207th/3984 |
7.31% 328th/4487 |
4.47% 305th/6822 |
4.78% 300th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Zander" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
100.00% 7313th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Zander"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Zander" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.