Andrew
Andrew Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
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Meaning of Andrew: Andrew derives from the Greek Andreas, built on aner meaning man with connotations of bravery or virility. The word carried strong positive associations in classical Greek, and early Christian writers chose it for one of the twelve apostles, as detailed on etymology records.
The apostle Andrew, brother of Simon Peter, served as the first-called disciple in John 1. Tradition sends him to preach across Greece, Scythia, and Thrace, and records his martyrdom on an X-shaped cross at Patras around 60 CE. His relics later moved to Constantinople and then Amalfi, Italy.
Saint Andrew serves as patron saint of Scotland, Russia, Greece, Ukraine, and Romania. The Scottish flag displays his white saltire cross on a blue ground, said to recall a 10th-century battlefield vision. Orthodox Christians especially venerate him as the first-called, founder of the See of Byzantium tradition.
What Does Andrew Mean? Origin & Etymology
Per US Social Security Administration records, Andrew held a top 10 position every year from 1985 through 1998, an unbroken 14-year run at the top of American naming charts. The name peaked at rank six in 1988 and 1989 with over 25,300 annual US births.
As of 2024, Andrew holds rank 68 with 4,772 US births, softly descending from its late-20th-century dominance. The name ranks among the top 50 across Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Russia, and Greece, making it one of the most widely shared Christian options across Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant nations simultaneously.
Variants across languages include Greek Andreas, Italian Andrea, Spanish Andres, Portuguese Andre, French Andre, Russian Andrei, Polish Andrzej, Ukrainian Andrii, and Scottish Gaelic Anndra. Notably, the short forms Drew, Andy, and Andre each function as independent registered names in US records, giving Andrew exceptional generative range.
How Popular Is Andrew?
Numerology & Symbolism of Andrew
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Andrew – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Andrew
What does Andrew mean?
What is the origin of Andrew?
Andrew derives from Greek Andreas. Saint Andrew’s apostolic prestige spread it globally. Two US presidents bore the name. Andrew ranked in the US top 10 from 1987 to 2006.
How popular is Andrew in the US?
Andrew ranks 68 for boys in the US as of 2024, per SSA data. It ranked in the US top 10 from 1987 to 2006. Andrew has ranked in the top 70 continuously since SSA records began in 1880.
What are variants of Andrew?
Is Andrew more popular for girls or boys?
Andrew is given predominantly to boys. It ranks 68 for boys in the US in 2024. Andrea is the feminine form, ranking in the US girls’ top 200.
Andrew – Name Variants & Spellings
| Variant | Language |
|---|---|
| Andrej | Czech/Slovak/Slovenian/Serbian |
| Andy | English diminutive |
| Drew | English short form |
| Andre | French/Portuguese |
| Andreas | Greek/German/Scandinavian |
| Andrei | Romanian/Russian |
| Anders | Scandinavian |
| Andres | Spanish |