Xander is traditionally a boy’s name, originating from ancient Greece. It means “defender of the people” and has been used for centuries as a masculine name. While Xander gained popularity initially as a male name, some parents have started using it for girls as well in recent years. So is Xander strictly a boy’s name or can it be used for girls too? Let’s take a deeper look.
History and Meaning of the Name Xander
The name Xander is the English form of the ancient Greek name Alexandros, which means “defender of the people” or “protector of men”. Alexandros was created by combining the Greek elements “alexo”, meaning defend, and “aner”, meaning man.
Alexander the Great, the famous king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon, made the name hugely popular in ancient Greece. After Alexander’s death in 323 BC, it became a very common name to honor him. Several derivatives like Alexandros, Alejandro, Alessandro, Aleksandar also emerged over the centuries in different languages and cultures.
Xander emerged as the English variation of Alexandros. It first appeared on record in Britain in the 19th century. While not very common for a long time, Xander saw a rapid surge in popularity in the early 1990s. Its use for girls also started gaining traction around the late 1990s and 2000s.
So the name Xander clearly has a long history of being used as a boy’s name with a solid masculine meaning. But things have evolved in recent years.
Current Trends and Usage
Xander continues to be used predominantly for boys even today. In the United States, it was the 107th most popular name for boys in 2022. For girls, it ranked only 3,156th.
However, while still uncommon, its use for girls has seen a rising trend over the past decade. In 2012, only 248 baby girls in the US were named Xander. But by 2021, this number had jumped to 685, close to triple.
Unsurprisingly, the name’s distribution shows a clear gender divide. 99% of children named Xander today are still boys. But parents seem more open to crossing traditional gender lines for names now.
The Social Security Administration data indicates Xander was given to over 14,000 boys in 2021, compared to just 685 girls. The next table shows the numbers and rankings of babies named Xander from 2012 to 2021.
| Year | Boy Name Popularity | Girl Name Popularity |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | #150 (9,803 babies) | #4,691 (248 babies) |
| 2013 | #137 (10,367 babies) | #4,352 (291 babies) |
| 2014 | #134 (10,701 babies) | #4,170 (326 babies) |
| 2015 | #126 (11,335 babies) | #3,887 (401 babies) |
| 2016 | #120 (11,913 babies) | #3,594 (468 babies) |
| 2017 | #113 (12,644 babies) | #3,396 (550 babies) |
| 2018 | #110 (13,539 babies) | #3,283 (623 babies) |
| 2019 | #106 (14,468 babies) | #3,012 (685 babies) |
| 2020 | #104 (15,207 babies) | #2,834 (748 babies) |
| 2021 | #107 (14,244 babies) | #3,156 (685 babies) |
While the numbers point to it still being overwhelmingly a boy’s name, Xander is clearly gaining some traction as a girl’s name as well in recent years. Its spelling as “Zander” also contributes to its increasing unisex appeal.
Celebrity Influence
Pop culture and celebrity baby names often influence naming trends. Xander’s rising use for girls seems partly fueled by its association with some high profile female celebrities.
For instance, actress Zooey Deschanel has a daughter named Elsie Otter, whose middle name she goes by is Xander. Spanish actress Paz Vega also has a daughter called Ava Xandra, with Xander as a feminine form of Alexander.
The name’s appearance on TV shows and films likely makes it more familiar and appealing too. Xander was the name of a central male character on the hit 90s show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But it was also given to female characters in shows like The Flash and Gossip Girl.
The name’s futuristic and edgy sound adds to the appeal as a unisex option for forward-thinking parents seeking an original name.
International Trends
The unisex naming trend is not limited to the US alone. Many other countries are also showing signs of Xander’s emerging crossover appeal from solely masculine to occasionally feminine as well.
For instance, in England and Wales, while still heavily skewed towards boys, Xander ranked #591 for girls in 2020, up from #814 in 2019. The next table shows numbers for England and Wales from 2018 to 2020.
| Year | Boy Name Popularity | Girl Name Popularity |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | #198 (717 babies) | #1,612 (22 babies) |
| 2019 | #170 (838 babies) | #814 (44 babies) |
| 2020 | #137 (1,074 babies) | #591 (52 babies) |
In Canada, Xander was given to 117 girls in 2020, up from 73 girls in 2019. In Australia, 39 girls were named Xander in 2020.
So while the numbers are quite small, they do point to a slow international rise in its use for girls alongside boys.
Reasons for the Unisex Trend
The question is why are a small but growing number of parents attracted to Xander for their daughters? Here are some potential contributing factors:
Greater Gender Neutrality
In general, gender norms around names are relaxing. Many parents today want to raise kids in a more gender-neutral way. A name like Xander sounds strong yet modern for either sex.
Spelling Variants
Spelling it as Xandra, Xanda or Zander further feminizes Xander visually on paper. This expands possibilities for use on a girl.
Association with Alexander
Its connection to Alexander, which has some history of feminine usage, adds to its accessibility for girls. Alexandera or Alexa could be considered comparable feminizations.
Cool, Edgy Vibe
Xander has a futuristic ring that makes it an edgy, modern choice fitting evolving tastes. This hip style works for boys and girls alike.
Pop Culture Influence
Hearing it on female characters or celebrities likely opens parents up to seeing its potential as a girl’s name too.
Family Tradition
In some cases, it may be used to honor an important Xander in the family tree.
Individualistic Choice
Some parents may just like it for its uniqueness and special meaning for their family.
Opinions on Use for Girls
As Xander continues crossing over onto the female side, opinions on its suitability as a girl’s name vary. Some perspectives and concerns expressed include:
Pros
– Sounds empowering and bold for a girl
– Gender norms around names are relaxing
– Adds an unexpected edge to a daughter’s name
– Pays tribute to family Xander
– Short and easy to say and spell
Cons
– Still dominantly viewed as a boy’s name
– She may dislike having a traditionally masculine name
– Could lead to teasing or misgendering
– Alexander offers a more established feminine form
– Uncommon enough to cause confusion
Alternate Spellings
Some suggest alternate “feminized” spellings make it more palatable for girls:
– Xandra
– Xanda
– Zanda
– Zander
– Xandra
– Alexa
– Alexandera/Alexandra
But others argue the different spelling defeats the purpose of choosing Xander in the first place.
Overall, opinions on using Xander for girls seem mixed. Some love it as a bold, progressive choice while others prefer sticking with convention.
Conclusion
In summary, Xander has traditionally been a masculine name derived from Alexander and meaning “defender of the people”. It remains overwhelmingly preferred for boys, ranking as the 107th most popular male name in the US as of 2022.
However, its use for girls has definitely risen over the past decade. While still unusual, it’s increasingly gaining some traction among progressive parents seeking an edgy, gender-neutral name.
The numbers show it being used for a small but growing number of daughters each year. Celebrities and pop culture are likely influencing this trend. The spelling variants like Xandra or Zander also contribute to its new unisex appeal.
Opinions are mixed on its suitability as a girl’s name. Some find it empowering and bold while others think it’s too masculine. Despite the debate, Xander’s emergence as a new unisex name looks set to continue as gender norms and tastes evolve. Though likely more common on boys, parents open to uncommon names may find its feminine use keeps climbing.