Andrew: Name Meaning, Origin, & Popularity

Boy name origins & meanings

What does Andrew mean and stand for?

Meaning:

Greek: Manly, brave, valiant
Scottish: Brace, manly

Gender: Male

Syllables: 2

Pronunciation: The name Andrew is pronounced an-droo

Andrew, a name of Greek origin meaning "manly" and "brave," conveys strength and reliability. Its roots can be traced back to the Greek name Andreas, which is derived from the element aner which means “man”, with notable figures from the Bible and Christian saints further popularizing the name.

Boy name variations

Family name origins & meanings

English and Scottish: from the usual vernacular English form (recorded from the 13th century onward) of the New Testament Greek personal name Andreas.

The surname Andrew was first brought to North America from England by Robert Andrew (died 1668), who settled in Boxford, MA.

Famous people with this first name

Andrew McCarthy

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

Andrew Shue

Famous people who gave their babies this name

Abby Hoffman

Mariska Hargitay

Ralph Lauren

Andrew in Pop Culture

Do you know these fictional characters that share this first name?

Andrew Clark from The Breakfast Club - A high school athlete who struggles with his identity and the expectations placed upon him.
Andrew Beckett from Philadelphia - A skilled lawyer who faces discrimination after his AIDS diagnosis becomes known to his employers.
Andrew Wells from Buffy the Vampire Slayer - A former villain who seeks redemption and becomes an ally to the main characters.
Andrew Paxton from The Proposal - An assistant to a high-powered book editor, who agrees to a sham engagement to prevent his boss's deportation back to Canada.
Andrew "Andy" Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption - A banker sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife and her lover, who maintains his innocence and seeks a way out.

Popularity of the Name Andrew

According to Social Security Administration data, Andrew has been a steadfastly popular name in the United States, consistently ranking in the top 50 names for boys over several decades. This name, with its classical and timeless appeal, has not waned in popularity and continues to be a preferred choice for many new parents.

Andrew's timeless quality has a strong Biblical association, being one of the twelve apostles and the first disciple to be called upon by Jesus in the New Testament. Though the origins of the name are Greek, Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Russia, and Greece. Historical figures bearing the name Andrew, such as Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, and Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist, have imbued the name with a sense of strength and reliability.

In the realm of entertainment, actors like Andrew Garfield and Andrew Lincoln keep the name current and in the public eye. Two of America's most famous artists also share the name: Andrew Wyeth and Andrew Warhol. Additionally, the name has been chosen for several notable fictional characters, appearing in a variety of media titles and further solidifying its position within popular culture.