Xander
Boy name · #259 in 2025 · Uniqueness 60/100
In 2025, 1,335 baby boys were named Xander, placing it at #259 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #206, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,348 boys born in 2025 was named Xander.
Babies named Xander per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 35-year story
Xander first appears in the Social Security records in 1990, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2017, when 2,414 boys were named Xander — good for #164 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Xander against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Xander in class?
Xander scores 60 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Xander is most common
Geography matters for names, and Xander is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Xanders were CA (185), TX (150), FL (101), NY (67), PA (54). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Xander
Statistically, parents drawn to Xander tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Zander, Ryder, Karter, Tucker, and Wilder.
ZanderRyderKarterTuckerWilderRykerPorterSawyer
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Xander | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,335 | #259 |
| 2024 | 1,671 | #215 |
| 2023 | 1,713 | #215 |
| 2022 | 1,899 | #200 |
| 2021 | 2,018 | #187 |
| 2020 | 2,057 | #187 |
| 2019 | 2,335 | #169 |
| 2018 | 2,275 | #171 |
| 2017 | 2,414 | #164 |
| 2016 | 2,017 | #201 |
| 2015 | 1,933 | #206 |
| 2014 | 1,839 | #211 |
| 2013 | 1,699 | #220 |
| 2012 | 1,715 | #215 |
| 2011 | 1,733 | #205 |
| 2010 | 1,357 | #253 |
| 2009 | 1,447 | #245 |
| 2008 | 1,295 | #268 |
| 2007 | 1,227 | #280 |
| 2006 | 1,238 | #280 |
| 2005 | 1,202 | #279 |
| 2004 | 1,274 | #259 |
| 2003 | 1,424 | #234 |
| 2002 | 408 | #542 |
| 2001 | 229 | #752 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Xander a popular boy name?
Xander ranked #259 among boys in 2025 with 1,335 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #206.
When was the name Xander most popular?
Xander peaked in 2017, when 2,414 American boys received the name (ranked #164 that year). Since 2017 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Xander?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,348 newborn American boys was named Xander. It scores 60/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.