What does Xander mean?
Xander is a short form of Alexander, “defender of the people.”
What does Orion mean?
Orion is the great hunter of Greek myth, set among the stars as a constellation.
Xander vs Orion
Which is more popular?
Xander is more popular than Orion today: about 1,335 US babies were given the name Xander in 2025, compared with 1,012 named Orion.
| Xander | Orion | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Defender of the people | Hunter |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | ZAN-der | oh-RY-un |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1990 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2017 (2,414) | 2018 (1,152) |
| In 2025 | 1,335 | 1,012 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Xander
Orion
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Xander | Orion |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 10,693 | 6,039 |
| 2010s | 19,317 | 8,595 |
| 2000s | 9,909 | 4,367 |
| 1990s | 362 | 1,852 |
| 1980s | 0 | 733 |
| 1970s | 0 | 500 |
| 1960s | 0 | 82 |
| 1950s | 0 | 84 |
| 1940s | 0 | 121 |
| 1930s | 0 | 154 |
| 1920s | 0 | 281 |
| 1910s | 0 | 192 |
| 1900s | 0 | 37 |
| 1890s | 0 | 49 |
| 1880s | 0 | 34 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Xander or Orion more popular?
Xander is more popular than Orion today: about 1,335 US babies were given the name Xander in 2025, compared with 1,012 named Orion.
What is the difference between Xander and Orion?
Xander means Defender of the people (Greek origin), while Orion means Hunter (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Xander or Orion?
In US records, Xander first appears in 1990 and Orion in 1880, so Orion has the longer recorded history.