Given name & surname

Vander

“a benevolent man”

Vander is a form of Evander. One Greek interpretation is “a benevolent man.”

Meaning & origin

What it means

In Greek use, Vander carries the interpretation “a benevolent man.” Vander is a form of Evander. One Greek interpretation is “a benevolent man.”

Combines direct and name-family evidence

Where it comes from

An origin associated with this spelling is Greek.

How it developed

Vander is used as a form of Evander.

The story

Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1884. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.

From dated birth records

Vander through the years

Babies since 1880
1,828
1,828 boys · 0 girls
Most popular year
2025
139 babies
2025
139
#1,357 for boys
2021–25 vs 2016–20
+64%
Rising fast
02550751001900192019401960198020002025Highest share 202581
Vander in U.S. Social Security birth records, 1884–2025, per million boys born. Years with fewer than five births for a sex are not published and appear as zero. Use the arrow keys to step through years.

Where it’s given

Most at home inOregon, Colorado, Indiana
FewerMore, relative to births Not published
2025 births by state of birth. Tiles are equal-sized so small states stay visible. Highest rates: Oregon (7), Colorado (8), Indiana (7), Missouri (6), North Carolina (6).

By the numbers

In 2025, this name appeared in 139 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,357 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 63.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (16). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,026 as a first name in 2020; 317 as a surname in 2020.

From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.

Vander’s family of names

Vander is a form of Evander.

Walk Vander’s family in the name graph

VanderEvander

The ring: across languages.

Hover or tab through the constellation to see how each name is related. Bigger dots are names more people in the U.S. share.

Across languages 1

Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.

Similar names

If you love Vander, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.

Greek · Saints

Leander

“people” · “man”

42UncommonRising

>99% boys

Greek

Lysander

“the liberator”

39RareRising fast

>99% boys

Greek · Modern

Zarek

“God protect the king”

38RareRising

>99% boys

Greek · Modern

Perseus

Perseus is a masculine given name from Ancient Greek. It is used in Latin.

45UncommonRising fast

99% boys · 1% girls

Greek · Modern

Ajax

Ajax is a masculine given name from Latin, ultimately from Ancient Greek.

28RareRising

>99% boys

Greek · Modern

Xander

“helper and defender of mankind”

69FamiliarEasing

>99% boys

Greek · Modern

Astraeus

22RareRising fast

>99% boys

Greek · Modern

Calix

“a handsome man”

36RareRising

>99% boys

Sibling ideas

Names that share Vander’s feel without repeating its first letter or rhyming with it.

A brother for Vander

A sister for Vander