Find out how popular the first name Sandy has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Sandy by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Sandy is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 92% of people named Sandy being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 68 female babies and 13 male babies born with the name Sandy.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 13 baby boys were named Sandy in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Sandy

The name Sandy is a diminutive form of the name Alexander or Alexandra, which originated from the Greek name Alexandros. The name Alexandros is derived from the Greek elements alexo, meaning "to defend," and aner, meaning "man." The name was made popular by Alexander the Great, the famous Macedonian ruler who conquered much of the ancient world in the 4th century BC.

The name Sandy likely emerged in the Middle Ages as a nickname or pet form of the longer names Alexander and Alexandra. It was initially used in English-speaking regions, particularly in the British Isles. The earliest recorded use of the name Sandy dates back to the 16th century.

One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Sandy was Sir Sandy Hamilton, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the late 16th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King James VI of Scotland and was involved in the Union of the Crowns in 1603.

In the 17th century, Sandy Dudley was an English poet and dramatist who lived from 1597 to 1668. He was known for his works such as "Althea's Park" and "The Siege of Rhodes."

In the 18th century, Sandy Mackenzie was a Scottish soldier and explorer who lived from 1754 to 1816. He served in the British Army and is known for his explorations in North America and his contributions to the mapping of the Canadian Northwest.

Another notable figure with the name Sandy was Sandy Koufax, an American baseball player who was born in 1935. He played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers and is considered one of the greatest pitchers in Major League Baseball history. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

In the world of music, Sandy Denny was a British folk singer and songwriter who lived from 1947 to 1978. She was a member of the influential folk rock bands Fairport Convention and Fotheringay and is regarded as one of the greatest British folk singers of her time.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Sandy was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Sandy, please contact us.

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