A very frequent Pet Name for Alexander [q.v.]. It is also a nickname for people with light reddish-brown hair.

A Scottish correpondent [F] says that, in his family, Alastair - a synonym for Alexander - was usually called Sandy as a Pet Name.

A Canadian correspondent [HM] reported:

"There was an old Ontario expression 'pulling a Sandy' ... I believe it's modern equivalent would be 'playing dumb'. Probably arose from the actions of some canny Scots pretending that they 'didna ken'."

A correspondent [GD] reports a family in Cumberland, England who named their son Sands in 1829. We think that, while this may be a variation on Sandy , it is more likely to be a mistranscription of the final letter.