NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Zander

Originating from Alexander, meaning "defender of men".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Zander is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Zander popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #651, with 57 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 72 births.

This profile covers 981 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1999 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 79% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,517 living people in the UK are called Zander. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Zander ranked #651 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 57 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2017, when 72 boys were registered as Zander.
  • Zander ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #199 in 2024.
  • About 1,517 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zander as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#651

2024

Births in 2024

57

Latest year

Peak year

2017

72 births

Estimated living

1,517

2026

Meaning

What does Zander mean?

The name Zander is a Germanic derivative of the name Alexander, which has Greek origins. Alexander is derived from the Greek words "alexo" meaning "to defend" and "andros" meaning "man". The name Alexander, and by extension Zander, is associated with strength, courage, and leadership.

The earliest recorded use of the name Zander can be traced back to the 16th century in Germany and the Netherlands. It was a shortened form of Alexander that was popular among German and Dutch families. During this time period, the name was sometimes spelled as "Xander" or "Sander".

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Zander was Zander Kumbein, a German painter who lived in the late 16th century. His work is noted for its attention to detail and realistic portrayal of everyday life.

In the 17th century, Zander Luyken, a Dutch writer and engraver, gained recognition for his moralizing texts and illustrations. His works often depicted religious and allegorical themes.

During the 18th century, Zander Kluit, a Dutch historian and scholar, made significant contributions to the study of Dutch history and literature. He is recognized for his critical analysis of historical sources and his efforts to promote the Dutch language.

In the 19th century, Zander Seghers, a Belgian painter, became known for his landscapes and depictions of rural life. His works are celebrated for their vivid colors and atmospheric quality.

Another notable figure with the name Zander was Zander Donahue, an American baseball player who played for the Philadelphia Phillies in the early 20th century. He was a skilled outfielder and had a successful career in the Major Leagues.

While the name Zander has its roots in Germanic languages, it has gained popularity in various cultures and regions over time. Its association with strength and leadership has contributed to its enduring appeal as a given name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zander over time

The chart below shows babies named Zander registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Zander, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 57 births in 2024, compared with 72 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Zander
018365472199920112024

Decades

Zander by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zander was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #656 276 5
2010s #686 520 10
2000s #1180 182 9
1990s #2943 3 1

Geography

Where Zander is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Zander. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Zander ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #199 in 2024.

Scotland
21
Northern Ireland
5

Across the UK

Zander in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#199 in 2024

24 years of NRS records, 524 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#305 in 2024

5 years of NISRA records, 21 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Zander

  • Zander Clark

    association football player

    Scottish association football player (born 1992)

    1992-

  • Zander Diamond

    association football player

    Scottish association football player

    1985-

  • Zander Murray

    association football player; LGBTQ rights activist

    Scottish football player

Related

Names similar to Zander

FAQ

Zander: questions and answers

How popular is the name Zander in the UK right now?

In 2024, Zander was ranked #651 for boys in England and Wales, with 57 births registered.

When was Zander most popular?

The peak year on record was 2017, with 72 babies registered as Zander in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zander?

Originating from Alexander, meaning "defender of men".

How many people are called Zander in the UK?

A total of 981 babies have been registered as Zander across the 25 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 524 more in Scotland and 21 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Zander most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Zander ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #199 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.