Zander

Zander is an English short form of Alexander, itself derived from the ancient Greek name Alexandros, composed of the elements alexein, meaning to defend, and aner, meaning man. Its use as an independent given name is a modern development, emerging as parents sought shorter, more streamlined alternatives to the full form. The name shares its roots with a broad family of variants including Alex, Xander, Sasha, and Alastair, all tracing back to the same Greek source. Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king and conqueror, remains the most historically influential bearer of the original name.