"son of Anders; son of the manly one"
Origin: Old Norse
Language: Danish
Andersen
Pronunciation: [ AND-ers-uhn ]
Does Andersen flow with your last name?
A Scandinavian surname carrying the world's most beloved fairy tales
Danish
Norwegian
Scandinavian
American
Classic
Strong
Literary
Traditional
Sophisticated
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Nicknames
Nicknames for Andersen
3 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"descendent of Andrew; virile"
Origin: Greek via Old Norse
Language: English
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The Story of Andersen
Andersen is a Scandinavian patronymic surname meaning 'son of Anders,' with Anders being the Nordic form of Andrew, from the Greek 'Andreas' meaning 'manly' or 'virile.' The -sen suffix is the Danish and Norwegian equivalent of the -son suffix in English. The Andersen spelling distinguishes it as specifically Danish, while Anderson is the Swedish and English variant. As a given name, it follows the modern trend of using surnames — especially literary ones — as first names.
Andersen has risen as a first name riding several waves: the broader surname-as-firstname trend, increased interest in Scandinavian names globally, and the enduring fame of Hans Christian Andersen. It remains uncommon enough to feel distinctive while being immediately recognizable and easy to pronounce.
The most famous bearer of this name is Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), the Danish author whose fairy tales — The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen, Thumbelina — have shaped childhood imagination worldwide for nearly two centuries. His name gives Andersen an unparalleled literary legacy.
Historical Record
Andersen first appeared in US Social Security records in 1988.
Over 921 babies have been named Andersen in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Andersen is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #4,505 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Hans Christian Andersen wrote 156 fairy tales, including The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, and The Snow Queen
- Andersen's story 'The Ugly Duckling' is widely read as an autobiographical account of his own childhood struggles
- The city of Odense, Denmark, where Hans Christian Andersen was born, has a museum dedicated entirely to him
Andersen in Other Languages
Danish
Andersen
German
Andersen
English
Anderson
Spanish
Andersen
Swedish
Andersson
Japanese
アンデルセン
Norwegian
Andersen
Popularity Over Time
#4,505
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Hidden Gem
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Andersen
W
Wes Anderson
Other
1969
American filmmaker known for his visually distinctive style in films like The Grand Budapest Hotel and Isle of Dogs
A
Anderson Cooper
Entertainer
1967
Emmy Award-winning American journalist, CNN anchor, and author — the most recognizable TV journalist of his generation
H
Hans Christian Andersen
Writer
1805
Danish author of immortal fairy tales including The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen, and Thumbelina
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Compare Andersen with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #4,505
- Total SSA Count
- 23
- Cultural Origins
- Danish Norwegian Scandinavian American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Anders
Andy
Ander
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Andersen
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Girl Name
Andersen is also used as a girl name, ranked #5854.
View Andersen as a girl name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Andersen
What does the name Andersen mean?
"son of Anders; son of the manly one" (from Old Norse). "descendent of Andrew; virile" (from Greek via Old Norse). Andersen is a Scandinavian patronymic surname meaning 'son of Anders,' with Anders being the Nordic form of Andrew, from the Greek 'Andreas' meaning 'manly' or 'virile.' The -sen suffix is the Danish and Norwegian equivalent of the -son suffix in English. The Andersen spelling distinguishes it as specifically Danish, while Anderson is the Swedish and English variant. As a given name, it follows the modern trend of using surnames — especially literary ones — as first names.
What is the origin of the name Andersen?
Andersen has Old Norse, Greek via Old Norse, Danish, Norwegian, Scandinavian, and American origins. In Old Norse, it means "son of Anders; son of the manly one". In Greek via Old Norse, it means "descendent of Andrew; virile".
Is Andersen a boy or girl name?
Andersen is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #4505. As a girl name, it is ranked #5854. Andersen is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Andersen?
Andersen is pronounced AND-ers-uhn.
How popular is the name Andersen?
Andersen is currently ranked #4505 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Andersen?
Common nicknames for Andersen include Anders, Andy, and Ander.
What are good middle names for Andersen?
Popular middle name pairings include Andersen James, Andersen William, Andersen Lee, Andersen Thomas, Andersen Cole, Andersen Blake, and Andersen Grant.
What are good sibling names for Andersen?
Names that pair well with Andersen as siblings include Henderson, Harrison, Emerson, Magnolia, Ingrid, Astrid, and Freya.
How many syllables does Andersen have?
Andersen has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Andersen a common or rare name?
Andersen is an uncommon name, ranked #4505 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What boy names are similar to Andersen?
About the Name Andersen
Andersen is a boy name with Danish, Norwegian, Scandinavian, and American origins . The name means "son of Anders; son of the manly one" in Old Norse .
Is Andersen a boy or girl name? Andersen is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #4,505 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #5,854. Andersen is more commonly used as a boy name.
Andersen is currently ranked #4,505 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Andersen has 3 syllables and is pronounced AND-ers-uhn, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Andersen include Anders, Andy, and Ander. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Andersen include Anderson, Ander, Anders . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis