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Home › Baby Names Directory › Sandra

Sandra

♀ Girl

Pronounced SAN-druh /ˈsæn.drə/High

Meaning: Defender of men; short form of Alexandra/Alessandra, from Greek alexein (to defend) + aner (man)High

In 30 seconds: An Italian short form of Alessandra meaning 'defender of men.' It was a top-10 U.S. girls' name from the 1940s through the 1960s and is now classic-vintage, associated with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
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Origin HighGreek, Italian
MeaningDefender of men; short form of Alexandra/Alessandra, from Greek alexein (to defend) + aner (man)
U.S. rank (2025)#1210 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births188 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1947
Total births (all-time)≈ 875,522

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 194719042025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Sandra is an Italian short form of Alessandra, the Italian feminine form of Alexander, from Greek alexein (to defend) and aner (man). It was popularized in English-speaking countries in the 20th century as an independent given name rather than just a nickname.

Sandra peaked in the U.S. in the 1940s–1960s, consistently ranking in the top 10. It has fallen since then and now ranks #1045 for girls in 2024 — more rare than its mid-century ubiquity would suggest.

Did you know? Sandra Day O'Connor (1930–2023) was the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, appointed by President Reagan in 1981 — the most prominent bearer of the name in American public life.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Sandra — Greek/Italian etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

SondraSaundra

Nicknames

SandySandi

Famous Bearers

  • ★Sandra Day O'Connor (1930–2023)
    First female Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, appointed by President Reagan in 1981. She served until 2006.

If you like Sandra…

Alexandra— the full form from which Sandra derives
Alessandra— the Italian source of Sandra
Cassandra— another Greek -andra name with the same classical feel
Sandy— the common nickname form of Sandra
Andrea— Greek -rea name meaning manly, in the same classical register

Explore names like Sandra

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sandra mean?

Sandra means 'defender of men,' as an Italian short form of Alessandra (Alexandra), from Greek alexein (to defend) and aner (man).

How do you pronounce Sandra?

It's said SAN-druh — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Sandra a boy or girl name?

Sandra is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Sandra?

Sandra ranked #1045 for U.S. girls in 2024, a steep decline from its 1940s–60s top-10 peak.

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