Xander

Xander is a masculine first name that is used as a short form of Alexander in German, Dutch, and English-speaking regions. It carries the meaning 'the man-repelling' or 'the protector'. This derivation traces back to the Greek origin Alexandros and includes the ancient Greek terms aléxein (ἀλέξειν), which means 'to ward off, protect, defend', as well as anēr (ἀνήρ) (genitive andrós), which means 'man, human'.

What does the name Xander mean?

Xander is a masculine first name that is a short form of the name Alexander and is used in several languages, including German, Dutch, and English. Its meaning is 'the man-repelling' or, more freely translated, 'the protector'. The name originates from the Greek root name Alexandros and is composed of the ancient Greek words aléxein (ἀλέξειν) meaning 'to ward off, protect, defend' and anēr (ἀνήρ) (genitive andrós) meaning 'man, human'. Among the most notable bearers of the name are American actor Xander Berkeley and American voice actor Xander Mobus.

Where does the name Xander come from?

The origin of the name Xander lies in ancient Greek, where it means 'the man-repelling' or 'the protector'.

How do you pronounce Xander?

The pronunciation of Xander is dynamic and consists of two syllables. In German, it is usually pronounced as 'KSAN-der' [ˈksandɐ]. The distinctive consonant cluster 'ks' gives the name an energetic note. The first syllable is stressed, while the ending '-der' fades softly. This makes Xander sound modern and powerful, with a clear and confident contour.

When is the name day of Xander?

The most important name days for Xander fall on May 3 and July 10.

Popularity

In Germany, Xander enjoys great popularity as a first name. Currently, it ranks 2,655th on the list of the most common male baby names. Its best ranking was achieved in 2005 at 827th place. In the last ten years, the name has been given around 100 times, placing it 2,399th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 2,365th.

Nicknames & pet names

Andra / Sandy / Xan / Xandi / Xando-Bot / Xandover

Famous people

• Xander Berkeley (actor)
• Xander Bogaerts (Aruban baseball player)
• Xander Botha (South African ice hockey player)
• Xander Corvus (American actor)
• Xander de Buisonje (Dutch singer)
• Xander Houtkoop (Dutch football player)
• Xander Kostroma (British designer)
• Xander Parish (ballet dancer from the UK)
• Xander Rawlins (British singer)
• Xander Speight (actor from Australia)
• Xander Straat (Dutch actor)
• Xander Tielens (Dutch astronomer)