I've loved that name since I was a little girl and named my favorite doll
Sandra. I say it SANN-dra, but I think SAWN-dra is okay. SAWN-dra sounds to me like European or it's trying to be European (I'm American).
I do think it's dated, but not so dated that it would be ugly on a baby.
I probably wouldn't use it myself. Not sure why - just doesn't suit a daughter in this family.
I don't really go for
Sandy. I think it makes a better nick for a boy named
Alexander. But it's okay on the right person. I worked with a woman named
Sandy (for
Alexandra) - she'd be about 30 now. It was really cute on her. She looked like a
Sandy because of her naturally beach-bum-blond hair.
I like
Sandra Gwendolyn,
Sandra Millicent, and I would like
Sandra Cleo and
Sandra Eve too, if they didn't remind me of
Sandra Dee. I don't feel like it goes with most of the more romantic middle names - since it's a short form they seem heavy with it. How about
Sandra Lark or
Sandra Karen?