The name Leander has its origins in Greek mythology and language. It is derived from the Greek name "Leandros", which is composed of the elements "leon" meaning "lion" and "aner" meaning "man". The name can be interpreted to mean "lion man" or "lion-like man".

According to Greek legend, Leander was a young man from Abydos who fell in love with a priestess named Hero from Sestos. The two cities were situated on opposite sides of the Hellespont (now known as the Dardanelles Strait). Every night, Leander would swim across the strait to be with his beloved Hero. On one stormy night, the waves were too strong, and Leander drowned while attempting to cross the strait. Upon discovering his body, the grief-stricken Hero took her own life by leaping from a tower into the sea.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Leander dates back to the 7th century BC, when the Greek poet Musaeus wrote about the tragic love story of Leander and Hero. The name also appears in various other Greek literary works, such as the works of Ovid and Virgil.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Leander. One of the earliest was Leander of Seville (534-600 AD), a Spanish bishop and scholar who wrote extensively on religious matters. Another notable Leander was Leander Anguisciola (1542-1629), an Italian painter and member of the Anguisciola family of artists from Cremona.

In the 17th century, Leander van Ess (1772-1847) was a German Catholic theologian and professor of theology at the University of Marburg. Leander Starr Jameson (1853-1917) was a British colonial politician and leader of the failed Jameson Raid in South Africa in 1895-1896.

More recently, Leander Paes (born 1973) is a professional tennis player from India who has won numerous Grand Slam titles in doubles and mixed doubles events.