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Sandy

Boy / Girl name · 491 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Sandy: 491 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 19 births in 1978.

Sandy began as a Scottish and English nickname for Alexander (and its feminine form Sandra), ultimately from the Greek Alexandros, meaning “defender of men.” The name’s most famous bearers include legendary baseball pitcher Sandy Koufax, the folk singer Sandy Denny of Fairport Convention, and Scottish golfer Sandy Lyle, a two-time major champion. Though no major towns are named after the nickname, the etymological root *Alex‑* appears in places like Alexandria. Sandy is notably gender‑neutral in Scotland, where it has often been used as a standalone given name rather than just a diminutive, and it remains particularly common among those with the traditional Gaelic equivalent, Alasdair.