You know the vibe. The air gets crisp, the leaves turn into crunchy bits of orange and brown, and suddenly, everyone is obsessed with a trio of witches from 1693 Salem. If you've ever sat down to watch the Disney classic and blanked on which one is which, you aren't alone. It’s a common question: what are the names of the Sanderson sisters?
They are Winifred, Mary, and Sarah.
But honestly, just knowing their names is like saying you know a car because you saw its hubcaps. These characters, played by Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker, have become the unofficial mascots of spooky season. They aren't just "the witches." They are distinct, chaotic, and weirdly relatable in their own dysfunctional way. Let's get into the nitty-gritty of who they actually are, how they differ, and why we’re still talking about them decades after the first movie flopped at the box office.
Winifred: The Brains and the Boss
Winifred Sanderson, or "Winnie" if you’re feeling brave, is the eldest. She’s the one with the buck teeth, the gravity-defying red hair, and the legendary temper. If you’re asking what are the names of the Sanderson sisters, she is the one you remember first because she’s the one screaming the loudest.
She is the leader. Period.
Without Winifred, the other two would probably still be wandering around Salem looking for a snack or a bus. She carries the Manual of Witchcraft and Alchemy—better known simply as "Book"—which is bound in human skin and features a creepy, blinking eye. This isn't just a prop; it’s a character. Winifred is the only one with enough magical juice to really command Book, and her relationship with the object is genuinely more affectionate than her relationship with her sisters.
Bette Midler brought a Broadway-level energy to this role that honestly shouldn't have worked in a kids' movie, yet it totally did. She’s narcissistic. She’s cruel. She’s obsessed with her own youth. But she’s also incredibly fun to watch. When she sings "I Put a Spell on You," she isn't just performing; she’s dominating the room. That’s the core of Winifred’s personality: dominance. She views her sisters as "idiots" and "buffoons," yet she literally cannot function without them because they form the coven required for her most powerful spells.
Mary: The Sensible (and Slightly Dog-Like) Middle Child
Then we have Mary. Kathy Najimy plays the middle sister with a crooked smirk that was actually an improvisation by the actress herself. Mary is the peacemaker. When Winifred is about to blow a fuse, Mary is the one barking—sometimes literally—to soothe her.
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Mary’s "thing" is her sense of smell. She can sniff out children from a distance, which is both terrifying and very helpful when you're a soul-sucking witch on a deadline. She’s the most observant. While Winnie is busy being dramatic and Sarah is busy being... Sarah, Mary is the one noticing the details.
She’s also the most modern-leaning of the bunch, oddly enough. Remember the scene where they discover a vacuum cleaner? While the others are confused, Mary just hops on and starts "flying" it like it’s the most natural thing in the world. There’s a strange sort of domesticity to Mary. She wants to please her older sister, and she’s the one who tries to keep the family unit from imploding. She’s basically the glue, if that glue was made of spiderwebs and anxiety.
Sarah: The Siren of the Group
Finally, there’s Sarah. If you look at the trio, Sarah is the one dancing in the back. Sarah Jessica Parker played this role right before she became a household name with Sex and the City, and it’s a wild departure from Carrie Bradshaw.
Sarah is the youngest and, let’s be real, the flightiest. She’s the siren. Her job in the coven is to lure children to their doom using her hypnotic voice. Her song, "Come Little Children," is genuinely haunting. It’s one of the few moments in the movie that feels truly "witchy" and eerie rather than campy.
People often dismiss Sarah as "the dumb one," but that’s a bit of a disservice. She’s just distractible. She likes playing with spiders. She likes boys. She likes hopping around. She’s the chaotic neutral of the group. While Winifred wants power and Mary wants approval, Sarah just wants to have a good time. There is a certain terrifying innocence to her—she doesn’t seem to grasp the morality of what they’re doing; she just thinks sucking the lives out of children is a fun Friday night activity.
Why the Names of the Sanderson Sisters Still Matter in 2026
It’s weird to think about, but Hocus Pocus was a total bomb when it came out in 1993. Critics hated it. Audiences stayed away. It wasn't until the Disney Channel started playing it on a loop every October that it became a cult classic.
Now, the names Winifred, Mary, and Sarah are legendary. They represent a very specific type of villain—the ones you love to hate but secretly want to hang out with. They aren't "pure evil" in the way Maleficent is. They are petty. They bicker. They have sibling rivalries. They feel like a real family, albeit a very murderous one.
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The 2022 sequel, Hocus Pocus 2, leaned heavily into this back-story. We actually got to see them as children in 1600s Salem. It turns out, they weren't born evil; they were outcasts who found power in each other. This added a layer of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) to the lore. It wasn't just a cash grab; it explored the "why" behind their bond. They chose each other. In a world that wanted to hang them, they chose magic.
Common Misconceptions About the Trio
I’ve heard a lot of weird theories over the years. No, they aren't based on real historical figures from the Salem Witch Trials. While the names Sarah and Mary were common in that era, the Sanderson sisters are entirely fictional creations of Garris and Kirschner.
Another big one? People think they are "evil" because of a deal with the Devil. In the first movie, they refer to a "Master," but it’s played for laughs (it turns out to be a guy in a costume). In the second movie, we see they actually got their book from a "Mother Witch" in the woods. Their power comes from a specific lineage of magic, not necessarily a demonic contract.
Breaking Down the Dynamic: The Rule of Three
Magic loves the number three. Historically, "The Triple Goddess" (Maiden, Mother, Crone) is a huge trope in mythology. The Sandersons subvert this.
- Winifred is the Crone (the wisdom/power).
- Mary is the Mother (the nurturer/organizer).
- Sarah is the Maiden (the youth/beauty).
Except, they all want to be young forever. Their entire motivation is to reverse the aging process. It’s a dark mirror of the Triple Goddess trope. They don’t want to progress through the stages of life; they want to stay stuck in a loop of eternal youth. This is what makes them such effective villains for a Disney movie. Their goal is selfish, but it’s a fear everyone understands: the fear of getting old and being forgotten.
How to Tell the Sisters Apart at a Glance
If you’re watching a clip and can’t remember what are the names of the Sanderson sisters, look at their colors and hair. Disney’s costume design was brilliant here.
- Green/Purple & Red Hair: That’s Winifred. She always wears rich, royal tones because she thinks she’s royalty. Her hair is shaped like two hearts—or maybe brains?
- Red/Orange & Dark Hair: That’s Mary. Her hair is shaped like a literal crooked chimney or a swirl of soft-serve ice cream. Her clothes are more textured and "earthy."
- Purple/Pink & Blonde Hair: That’s Sarah. Her outfit is much more "corset-heavy" and revealing compared to the others. She’s the only one with long, flowing hair.
Historical Context: Salem 1693 vs. Reality
While the movie is a fantasy, it uses the 1693 setting to ground the sisters' origins. The real Salem Witch Trials happened in 1692. By 1693, the fever was actually dying down because the governor’s wife had been accused, which usually shuts that kind of thing down pretty fast.
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The movie treats the sisters as "real" witches in a world of puritans. In reality, the people executed in Salem were innocent victims of mass hysteria and property disputes. By making the Sandersons actually magical, the movie sidesteps the tragedy of the real events and creates its own mythology. It’s a safe way to play with the aesthetic of the trials without getting bogged down in the grim reality of the 19 people who were hanged.
Practical Steps for Hocus Pocus Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the lore of Winifred, Mary, and Sarah, you don't have to stop at the movies.
First, check out the young adult novel Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel. It was released a few years before the second movie came out and actually tells a completely different story about Poppy (Max and Allison’s daughter) encountering the sisters. It’s a fun "alternate universe" take.
Second, if you ever find yourself in Massachusetts, go to Salem. You can visit Pioneer Village, which is where the opening scenes of the first movie were filmed. Seeing the actual "Sanderson cottage" (it’s a museum set) makes the names feel a lot more real.
Finally, pay attention to the background details next time you watch. There are tiny bits of dialogue where Mary and Sarah mention their mother or their past lives that explain why they are so co-dependent. They aren't just villains; they are survivors of a very weird upbringing.
Knowing what are the names of the Sanderson sisters is just the entry point. Once you start looking at the costumes, the improv, and the mythology behind them, you realize why we’re still lighting the Black Flame Candle every October. They are the perfect blend of scary and silly.
To really appreciate the trio, watch the movies back-to-back. Notice how Winifred’s leadership style changes when she’s stressed. Watch Mary’s subtle "calming" gestures. Listen to the way Sarah hums when she’s bored. That’s the stuff that makes them human-quality characters, not just cardboard cutouts.
If you're planning a costume or just settling a debate at a trivia night, remember the hierarchy: Winifred leads, Mary sniffs, and Sarah lures. It’s a system that worked for three hundred years—well, until a teenager in tie-dye showed up.
Key Takeaway Actions:
- Identify by Color: Green = Winifred, Red = Mary, Purple = Sarah.
- Watch for Improv: Kathy Najimy's bark and crooked jaw were her own ideas.
- Explore Salem: Visit the real filming locations in Massachusetts to see the history behind the Hollywood magic.
- Read the Books: The YA novel offers a different "Part 2" than the Disney+ film.