The name Sanders is of English origin, derived from the Old German surname 'Sandere', which was brought to England by Norman settlers during the Norman Conquest. It is an occupational name for a sandaler, someone who makes shoes. Over time, the name has become associated with the American political family, most notably Bernie Sanders, the U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate.
The name Sanders experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years. From 1880 to 1950, there were periods where the number of births was quite low, ranging from 5 to 10 births per year. However, starting around 1951, there was a notable increase in the number of Sanders births, with peaks reaching as high as 47 births in 1951 and 30 births in several years throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
After the 1960s, the popularity of the name Sanders began to decline, with fewer than 20 births per year becoming more common. The lowest point occurred in 2002, with only 7 births recorded that year. Since then, the number has generally fluctuated between 10 and 20 births annually, with a brief spike to 24 births in 2012.
As of 2023, there have been a total of 2364 births named Sanders since 1880.