‘Hocus Pocus:’ What Are the Sanderson Sisters’ Names?

The Sanderson Sisters’ names are synonymous with Halloween thanks to Hocus Pocus‘s cult-classic status. Brought to life by actors Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker in the Disney movie, the Sanderson Sisters have inspired Halloween costumes, a sequel, and more.

Sarah Sanderson is the blonde witch in the ‘Hocus Pocus’ trio

Sarah Sanderson is the youngest of the Sanderson sisters. She loves dancing and hypnotizing children with her singing voice, although she may be a little ditzy.

But Sarah Sanderson is definitely a charmer. Throughout the movie, a few boys fall for her, including a bus driver. She even gets to dance with her “master,” Satan, at one point. This character is portrayed by an actor of the same name, Sex and the City’s Sarah Jessica Parker.

Mary Sanderson is the Sanderson sister with the super sense of smell

Mary Sanderson is the second name to know. The middle child of the Sanderson sisters is the spell-casting, child-smelling witch portrayed by Kathy Najimy. With dark hair and a sideways lip, Mary Sanderson actually has her own superpower. 

She has a super sense of smell, which allows her to determine the age and gender of children nearby. This definitely comes in handy for Winnie, who needs to souls of children to power her potion. 

Mary Sanderson often gets the short end of the stick, or rather, the vacuum instead of a broom. She also ends up following Winnie’s plan throughout her life. Sometimes it leads to something good, like coming back to life after 300 years. Other times it leads to getting wet and, you know, getting killed. 

Winifred ‘Winnie’ Sanderson is the leader of the ‘Hocus Pocus’ witches

Sometimes she’s known as “Winnie” by her two sisters but, throughout history, she’s known as one of the witches hung during the Salem witch trials. Sporting red hair, bright red lips, and a green cloak, it’s Winifred’s spell that brings her and her sisters back to life one Halloween.

Adjusting to life in the 1990s is a little challenging for this witch, who falls for Max’s “burning rain of death” trick. She even spends some time with Satan, who was just a man in a devil costume, dressed up for the holiday. 

Portrayed by Bette Midler, Winnie is the oldest of the three Sanderson sisters and also, debatably, the smartest. She also has a pretty great singing voice, blessing the parents of Salem with her rendition of “I Put A Spell On You.”