Philander is a given name. Notable people with this given name include:
- Philander Chase (1775–1852), Episcopal Church bishop, educator, founder of Kenyon College, and pioneer of the United States western frontier
- Philander Claxton (1862–1957), American journalist
- Philander P. Humphrey (1823–1862), American physician and politician.
- Philander Chase Johnson (1866–1939), American journalist
- Philander C. Knox (1853–1921), American lawyer and politician
- Philander Prescott (1801–1862), American translator
- Philander Smith (1809–1882), American philanthropist and eponym of Philander Smith College
- Philander Stephens (1788–1861), Jacksonian member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania