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Home › Baby Names Directory › Xander

Xander

♂ Boy

Pronounced ZAN-der /ˈzæn.dər/High

Meaning: Defender of the people; short form of Alexander, from Greek alexein + androsHigh

In 30 seconds: A punchy short form of Alexander meaning 'defender of the people.' The X gives it extra edge and flair while the name retains all the power of its 2,300-year-old classic root.
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Origin HighGreek
MeaningDefender of the people; short form of Alexander, from Greek alexein + andros
U.S. rank (2025)#259 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births1,335 boys (0.08% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2017
Total births (all-time)≈ 40,263

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201719902025

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

Xander is a short form of Alexander, derived from the Greek Ἀλέξανδρος (Alexandros), composed of alexein ('to defend') and aner/andros ('man, people'). The X spelling (rather than Z) is used in Dutch, where Xander is a common independent name. In English-speaking countries it gained visibility through the character Xander Harris in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Xander entered the U.S. top 200 boys' names in the 2000s and continued rising in the 2010s. Its X-initial spelling gives it a distinctive, modern look while the underlying name is one of history's most enduring. It is particularly popular among parents who like Alexander but want a shorter, more dynamic form.

Did you know? The character Xander Harris in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003) helped introduce this spelling to a wide American audience in the late 1990s.

Variations

ZanderAlexAlexander

Nicknames

XXan

Famous Bearers

  • ★Xander Bogaerts (1992-)
    Aruban Major League Baseball shortstop
  • ★Xander Schauffele (1993-)
    American professional golfer and Olympic gold medalist
  • ★Xander Berkeley (1955-)
    American actor known for 24 and The Walking Dead

If you like Xander…

Alex— the standard short form of the same source name
Jasper— similarly edgy yet classic two-syllable boys' name
Felix— another sharp two-syllable classic on the same upward trend
Peter— a similarly popular pick
Zander— shares Xander's Greek roots

Explore names like Xander

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Xander mean?

Xander is a short form of Alexander, meaning 'defender of the people' from Greek alexein (defend) and andros (people).

How do you pronounce Xander?

Xander is pronounced ZAN-der (/ˈzæn.dər/) — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Xander a boy or girl name?

Xander is used predominantly as a boy's name.

How popular is Xander?

Xander has been climbing the U.S. charts since the 2000s and is now in the top 200 boys' names.

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