What does the name Zander mean?

What does the name Zander mean? The name Zander is by all indications the diminutive version of the name Alexander. It is more common as a surname than a first name (which appears to be quite rare but gaining in popularity). As a first name it is definitely a boys name and not a unisex name.

What does the name mean? From its original source in Greek it means “Warrior” or “Defender”. It may have originally been a title bestowed upon men before it was a proper name. This is based on the source name “Alexander”, and it appears that the diminutive version of the name (Zander) contains the same meaning.

A variant of this name meaning for Zander is “Defender of Men” which gives further creedence that it was a title for warriors before it became a first name.