Home βΊ Baby Names Directory βΊ Sandy
Sandy
Pronounced SAN-dee /ΛsΓ¦n.di/High
Meaning: Pet form of Sandra and Alexandra, from Greek Alexandros, 'defender of mankind'High
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Sandy is the pet form of Sandra and Alexandra β ultimately Greek Alexandros, 'defender of mankind' β and, for boys, of Alexander, especially in Scotland, where Sandy has been the Alexander nickname for centuries. As a girl's name it crested in midcentury America alongside Sandra's boom.
Pop culture stamped it twice: Sandy Olsson in Grease and little orphan Annie's dog (a rare canine boost). The name now sits in style limbo with Cindy and Wendy, awaiting the inevitable retro turn; it is rare on today's birth certificates.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- β
Sandy Dennis (1937β1992)American actress who won an Academy Award for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Sandy mean?
Sandy is a pet form of Sandra and Alexandra, from Greek Alexandros, meaning 'defender of mankind'.
How do you pronounce Sandy?
It's said SAN-dee /ΛsΓ¦n.di/ β two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Sandy a boy or girl name?
Sandy is used for both sexes β traditionally for boys in Scotland as a nickname for Alexander β and this page covers its use as a girl's name.
How popular is Sandy?
Sandy is rare for newborns today after its midcentury heyday.