What does Xander mean?
Xander is a short form of Alexander, “defender of the people.”
What does Damian mean?
Damian comes from the Greek for “to tame” or “subdue.”
Xander vs Damian
Which is more popular?
Damian is more popular than Xander today: about 3,213 US babies were given the name Damian in 2025, compared with 1,335 named Xander.
| Xander | Damian | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Defender of the people | To tame, subdue |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | ZAN-der | DAY-mee-un |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1990 | 1912 |
| Peak year | 2017 (2,414) | 2013 (3,976) |
| In 2025 | 1,335 | 3,213 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Xander
Damian
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Xander | Damian |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 10,693 | 19,855 |
| 2010s | 19,317 | 35,284 |
| 2000s | 9,909 | 26,034 |
| 1990s | 362 | 12,688 |
| 1980s | 0 | 5,719 |
| 1970s | 0 | 7,282 |
| 1960s | 0 | 1,865 |
| 1950s | 0 | 700 |
| 1940s | 0 | 231 |
| 1930s | 0 | 126 |
| 1920s | 0 | 91 |
| 1910s | 0 | 45 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Xander or Damian more popular?
Damian is more popular than Xander today: about 3,213 US babies were given the name Damian in 2025, compared with 1,335 named Xander.
What is the difference between Xander and Damian?
Xander means Defender of the people (Greek origin), while Damian means To tame, subdue (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Xander or Damian?
In US records, Xander first appears in 1990 and Damian in 1912, so Damian has the longer recorded history.