Anders

Pronunciation: [ AND-erz ]

Boy Name #835 Most Popular Rising 2 Syllables

The sleek Scandinavian Andrew for modern parents

Swedish Norwegian Danish Finnish American

Strong Classic Sophisticated Unique Vintage

Meaning & Origin

"manly, brave, strong"

Origin: Greek aner/andros (man)

Language: Greek

"warrior"

Origin: Proto-Indo-European root

Language: Greek

Things to Know About This Name

Anders Breivik, the Norwegian far-right terrorist responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks, is a significant negative association in Scandinavian countries

The Story of Anders

Anders is the Scandinavian form of Andrew, derived from the Greek name Andreas, from the Greek word aner/andros meaning man (in the sense of male human). Saint Andrew, the apostle and patron saint of Scotland, Greece, Russia, and Romania, spread this name across Europe in the early Christian era. In Scandinavia, it has been borne by royalty and commoners alike for over a millennium.

Anders has been a consistently popular name throughout Scandinavia for centuries, ranking in the top 50 in Sweden and Norway. In the United States, it has been rising since the 2000s as parents seek Scandinavian alternatives to common names like Andrew or Anderson.

In Sweden and Norway, Anders is one of the classic male names carrying centuries of cultural weight. Saint Andrew the Apostle is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, and several other nations, making this name remarkably widespread.

Fun Facts

Saint Andrew is the patron saint of more countries than almost any other saint - including Scotland, Greece, Russia, Romania, and Ukraine
Anders is consistently a top-10 name in Norway and a top-50 name in Sweden

Anders in Other Languages

Greek Andreas

French Andre

English Andrew

Italian Andrea

Russian Andrei

Spanish Andres

Swedish/Norwegian/Danish Anders

Famous People Named Anders

Anders Zorn

Artist

1860

Swedish painter and printmaker, one of Scandinavia's greatest 19th-century artists

Anders Celsius

Scientist

1701

Swedish astronomer and physicist who proposed the Celsius temperature scale in 1742

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 2
Popularity Rank: #835
Total SSA Count: 297
Cultural Origins: Swedish Norwegian Danish Finnish American
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: High

Alternative Spellings

Anderson #357 Ander #586 Andersen #4505

Common Nicknames

Andy Ander

Pairs Well With

Anders James Anders Erik Anders Lars Anders Bjorn Anders Cole Anders Reid Anders Grant

Sibling Names

Soren Magnus Astrid Ingrid Lars Sigrid Bjorn

Also a Girl Name

Anders is also used as a girl name, ranked #39443.

View Anders as a girl name →

Similar Names

Andrew Addison Andres Henderson Andre Drew Edison Iverson

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Frequently Asked Questions About Anders

What does the name Anders mean?

"manly, brave, strong" (from Greek aner/andros (man)). "warrior" (from Proto-Indo-European root). Anders is the Scandinavian form of Andrew, derived from the Greek name Andreas, from the Greek word aner/andros meaning man (in the sense of male human). Saint Andrew, the apostle and patron saint of Scotland, Greece, Russia, and Romania, spread this name across Europe in the early Christian era. In Scandinavia, it has been borne by royalty and commoners alike for over a millennium.

What is the origin of the name Anders?

Anders has Greek aner/andros (man), Proto-Indo-European root, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, and American origins. In Greek aner/andros (man), it means "manly, brave, strong". In Proto-Indo-European root, it means "warrior".

Is Anders a boy or girl name?

Anders is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #835. As a girl name, it is ranked #39443. Anders is more commonly used as a boy name.

How do you pronounce Anders?

Anders is pronounced AND-erz.

How popular is the name Anders?

Anders is currently ranked #835 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Anders?

Common nicknames for Anders include Andy and Ander.

What are good middle names for Anders?

Popular middle name pairings include Anders James, Anders Erik, Anders Lars, Anders Bjorn, Anders Cole, Anders Reid, and Anders Grant.

What are good sibling names for Anders?

Names that pair well with Anders as siblings include Soren, Magnus, Astrid, Ingrid, Lars, Sigrid, and Bjorn.

How many syllables does Anders have?

Anders has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Anders a common or rare name?

Anders is moderately common, ranked #835 for boys in the US. You will encounter it, but it stands out.

About the Name Anders

Anders is a boy name with Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, and American origins . The name means "manly, brave, strong" in Greek aner/andros (man) .

Is Anders a boy or girl name? Anders is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #835 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #39,443. Anders is more commonly used as a boy name.

Anders is currently ranked #835 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Anders has 2 syllables and is pronounced AND-erz, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Anders include Andy and Ander. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.

Alternative spellings of Anders include Anderson, Ander, Andersen . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.