A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Sanders since 1880
Babies named Sanders per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1951, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Sanders's real moment was 1893.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 77 |
| 1890s | 64 |
| 1900s | 81 |
| 1910s | 223 |
| 1920s | 265 |
| 1930s | 227 |
| 1940s | 260 |
| 1950s | 282 |
| 1960s | 165 |
| 1970s | 128 |
| 1980s | 113 |
| 1990s | 130 |
| 2000s | 124 |
| 2010s | 161 |
| 2020s | 92 |
Meaning & origin
Sanders is a patronymic surname turned given name, tracing back to the medieval diminutive Sander of Alexander. While it ranked as high as 5,861th in 2025, with about 1 in 113,872 newborns receiving the name, it has been on an upward trajectory since 1985, reflecting a broader trend of surname-names gaining favor. The name's peak popularity occurred in 1893, and it was most common in Alabama among the top states recorded. Although it has not yet reached its former heights, its steady rise suggests growing appeal for this strong, traditional name.
Sanders is a patronymic surname turned given name, derived from the medieval given name Sander, itself a short form of Alexander. The name Alexander comes from the Greek Alexandros, meaning 'defender of men' (from alexein 'to defend' and aner 'man'). In Scotland, Sanders was commonly used as a variant of Saunders. The name saw modest use as a first name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in the United States, and has experienced a revival since the 1980s.
Where Sanders is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sandy, Sander, Anders
Sibling names for Sanders
Names that share Sanders's style, for a brother or sister.
