"manly, brave"
Andrew
Pronunciation: [ ANDR-oo ]
An apostolic classic embraced by cultures worldwide for centuries
Meaning & Origin
"warrior, strong man"
Things to Know About This Name
- Prince Andrew (Duke of York) was embroiled in a significant scandal involving Jeffrey Epstein (2019-present), which may give pause to some parents
The Story of Andrew
Andrew derives from the Greek name 'Andreas,' built on 'aner' (man) with the suffix '-ios,' forming 'andreios' meaning manly or brave. Saint Andrew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and the first to be called, earning him the epithet 'Protokletos' (the First-Called). He is the patron saint of Scotland, Russia, Greece, Romania, and several other nations — explaining the name's extraordinary geographic reach across Christian cultures.
Andrew has been consistently popular across centuries, never ranking at the very top or fading away. It reached peak US popularity in the 1980s-90s and has declined somewhat since, but remains a reliable classic that many parents return to for its timeless, apostolic authority.
Saint Andrew's saltire cross (X shape) forms the basis of the Scottish flag (the Saltire) and is incorporated into the Union Jack. In Russia, Andrei is deeply associated with the Orthodox Church. In the US, Andrew has been the name of six presidents, cementing its American presidential prestige.
Fun Facts
- Saint Andrew's Day (November 30) is Scotland's national day, a public holiday celebrated with traditional food, music, and whisky
- Saint Andrew never visited Scotland — his relics were reportedly brought there in the 4th century by Saint Rule, according to Scottish tradition
Andrew in Other Languages
Famous People Named Andrew
Andrew Garfield
Actor
1983
British-American actor known for The Social Network, Spider-Man, Hacksaw Ridge, and Tick, Tick... Boom!
Prince Andrew
Other
1960
British royal, Duke of York and second son of Queen Elizabeth II
Andrew Carnegie
Business
1835
Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist who became one of the richest Americans in history
Andrew Jackson
Politician
1767
7th President of the United States, nicknamed 'Old Hickory,' the founder of the Democratic Party and a controversial fig...
7th President of the United States, nicknamed 'Old Hickory,' the founder of the Democratic Party and a controversial figure in American history
Saint Andrew
Religious
One of the twelve apostles of Jesus and the first to follow him; patron saint of Scotland, Russia, Greece, and Romania
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #68
- Total SSA Count
- 4,772
- Cultural Origins
- Greek English Scottish American Russian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Girl Name
Andrew is also used as a girl name, ranked #13687.
View Andrew as a girl name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Andrew
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About the Name Andrew
Andrew is a boy name with Greek, English, Scottish, American, and Russian origins . The name means "manly, brave" in Greek .
Is Andrew a boy or girl name? Andrew is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #68 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #13,687. Andrew is more commonly used as a boy name.
Andrew is currently ranked #68 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Andrew has 2 syllables and is pronounced ANDR-oo, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Andrew include Andy and Drew. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Andrew include Andres, Andre, Andreas, Andrei, Andrey . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.