Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Sandra
GirlItalian, Greek· “defender of men”
- Meaning
- defender of men
- Origin
- Italian, Greek
- Pronunciation
- SAN-druh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,210
- US babies 2025
- 188
- Best rank
- #5 (1947)
- Peak year
- 1947
Meaning and origin of Sandra
Sandra is an Italian and Greek name that means “defender of men”.
Sandra began as an Italian short form of Alessandra, the feminine form of Alexander, which comes from Greek elements meaning "to defend" and "man". It spread to English-speaking countries in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and became very popular in the mid century. George Meredith's novel Sandra Belloni helped introduce it to English readers. Well-known bearers include Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court, and the actress Sandra Bullock. Sandra is friendly, clear and classic, and Sandy and Sandi are traditional nicknames.
Popularity over time
Sandra first appears in US Social Security records in 1904. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 107 different years, starting in 1913. Its best national rank was #5 in 1947, the same year it reached its highest count of 34,779 babies. In 2025, 188 babies were named Sandra, and it ranked #1,210 nationally. That is 44% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #689 in 1920, #8 in 1950, #80 in 1980, #257 in 2000, #515 in 2010, and #1,210 in 2025. Of the 875,531 US girls named Sandra since records began, 30% were born in the 1940s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 251,591 babies. Since 2010, 5,049 more have been named Sandra.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Carol, Nancy, Sharon, Judy, and Barbara.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sandra ranked highest in South Carolina, Kentucky, and Alabama.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | #677 | 7 |
| Kentucky | #737 | 6 |
| Alabama | #808 | 6 |
| Illinois | #846 | 11 |
| Massachusetts | #990 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Sandra is usually pronounced SAN-druh, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with S and ends in “-ra”.
Middle names for Sandra
A few middle names that flow with Sandra: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sandra
Similar names
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Lists that include Sandra
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sandra mean?
Sandra is an Italian and Greek name that means “defender of men”.
What is the origin of the name Sandra?
Sandra has Italian and Greek roots. Sandra began as an Italian short form of Alessandra, the feminine form of Alexander, which comes from Greek elements meaning "to defend" and "man".
Is Sandra a popular name?
Not especially. Sandra ranked #1,210 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Sandra a boy or girl name?
Sandra is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Sandra?
Sandra is usually pronounced SAN-druh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings