Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1951

Sanders

Gender Boy Rank 2025 #6,086

From the Middle English Sander, a shortened form of Alexander + suffix -s.

Rank 2025
#6,086
among boys · ↑672 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
15
named Sanders
How common
1 in 113,872
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1951
47 babies
All-time total
2,398
#2,954 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Sanders popularity over time

2,398 babies have been named Sanders since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.040.080.110.1518801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – 77 77 8 – #641
1890s – 64 64 6 -17% #567
1900s – 81 81 8 +27% #869
1910s – 223 223 22 +175% #671
1920s – 265 265 27 +19% #1,177
1930s – 227 227 23 -14% #1,231
1940s – 260 260 26 +15% #1,225
1950s – 282 282 28 +8% #1,051
1960s 6 165 171 17 -39% #1,685
1970s – 128 128 13 -25% #2,518
1980s – 113 113 11 -12% #2,892
1990s – 130 130 13 +15% #3,819
2000s – 124 124 12 -5% #4,866
2010s – 161 161 16 +30% #4,225
2020s (to 2025) – 92 92 15 -5% #5,036

The story of Sanders

Sanders is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,086 in 2025 with 15 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 2,398 American babies have been named Sanders. Its peak came in 1951, when 47 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Sanders stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Sanders?

The median living Sanders is about 47 years old; half are between 19 and 69. An estimated 1,200 people named Sanders are alive in the United States today.

median 47 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Sanders year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – 15 #6,086
2024 – – 13 #6,758
2023 – – 20 #5,036
2022 – – 12 #7,177
2021 – – 17 #5,517
2020 – – 15 #5,927
2019 – – 9 #8,744
2018 – – 12 #7,049
2017 – – 22 #4,568
2016 – – 24 #4,296
2015 – – 12 #7,004
2014 – – 21 #4,680
2013 – – 14 #6,186
2012 – – 24 #4,225
2011 – – 14 #6,195
2010 – – 9 #8,667
2009 – – 15 #6,033
2008 – – 20 #4,866
2007 – – 15 #5,859
2006 – – 11 #7,336
2005 – – 11 #7,020
2004 – – 12 #6,448
2003 – – 10 #7,148
2002 – – 7 #9,209
2001 – – 10 #6,848
2000 – – 13 #5,525
1995 – – 17 #3,819
1990 – – 13 #4,366
1985 – – 10 #4,288
1980 – – 13 #3,399
1975 – – 12 #3,205
1970 – – 11 #3,038
1965 6 #6,380 18 #1,906
1960 – – 24 #1,685
1955 – – 30 #1,415
1950 – – 30 #1,338
1945 – – 30 #1,225
1940 – – 20 #1,561
1935 – – 24 #1,419
1930 – – 26 #1,460
1925 – – 21 #1,736
1920 – – 29 #1,375
1915 – – 24 #1,403
1910 – – 20 #671
1905 – – 9 #911
1900 – – 10 #895
1895 – – – –
1890 – – 6 #981
1885 – – 8 #755
1880 – – 6 #895

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Sanders, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Sanders?

The median living Sanders is about 47 years old. Half of all living Sanderss are between 19 and 69 years old.

How many people named Sanders are alive today?

An estimated 1,200 people named Sanders are alive in the United States, based on 2,398 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Sanders mean?

From the Middle English Sander, a shortened form of Alexander + suffix -s.

How popular is the name Sanders in 2025?

Sanders ranked #6,086 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 15 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Sanders?

2,398 babies have been named Sanders in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Sanders most popular?

Sanders peaked in 1951, when 47 newborns received the name.

Is Sanders a boy or girl name?

Sanders is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Sanders rising or falling?

Sanders has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Sanders

Names that sound and feel close to Sanders: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Sanders with similar names → More names starting with S →