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The short answer
Andrew is an English masculine name derived from the Ancient Greek name Andreas, rooted in andreios, meaning 'manly' or 'masculine.' In the Christian New Testament, Andrew is identified as the first apostle to follow Jesus and the brother of Simon Peter. Becoming widely adopted across Europe during the Middle Ages, the name developed strong cultural ties as the patron saint of Scotland, Greece, Russia, and Romania. Today, parents continue to choose Andrew for its balanced cadence, biblical heritage, and familiar traditional presence.
Meaning and etymology
Andrew is the English form of the Ancient Greek name Ἀνδρέας (Andreas), derived from ἀνδρεῖος (andreios), meaning 'manly' or 'masculine', which traces back to ἀνήρ (aner), meaning 'man'.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Greek | ἀνήρ (aner) | man |
| Ancient Greek | ἀνδρεῖος (andreios) | manly, masculine |
| Ancient Greek | Ἀνδρέας (Andreas) | manly, masculine |
Popularity
In the United States, Andrew has maintained continuous use since at least the late 19th century, climbing steadily into the top 10 during the late 1980s through the 2000s before settling into the top 100 in recent years.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1880 | #24 | btn-andrew-us-pop |
| United States | 1988 | #5 | btn-andrew-us-pop |
| United States | 2003 | #5 | btn-andrew-us-pop |
| United States | 2025 | #73 | btn-andrew-us-pop |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Andy, Drew, Andie, Dru, Jrue
Variants: Andre, Andreas, Andrei, Andrey
Related names: Andrea, Andrina, Anders, Anderson, Andrews
What the name feels like
Andrew presents an understated, dignified presence that pairs ancient etymological roots with an accessible, grounded rhythm.
Style tags: classic, mature, formal, wholesome, strong
Editorial interpretation: Tags such as 'classic', 'mature', 'formal', 'wholesome', and 'strong' reflect community ratings cataloged on Behind the Name rather than formal linguistic classifications.
If you like this name
Families drawn to the traditional heritage and structured sound of Andrew often explore other names sharing similar linguistic origins or stylistic sensibilities.
Similar by origin
- Andreas
- Andre
- Andrei
- Andrés
Similar by sound
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Andrew mean?
Andrew means 'manly' or 'masculine.' It derives from the Greek name Andreas, which originates from the Greek adjective andreios (manly) and the root noun aner (man).
Where does the name Andrew come from?
Andrew entered English via Old English and Latin forms of the Ancient Greek name Andreas. It gained international prominence through Saint Andrew, an apostle in the Christian New Testament.
What are common nicknames for Andrew?
Frequent English diminutive forms include Andy and Drew, alongside variations such as Andie, Dru, and Jrue.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Andrew — supports Meaning 'manly, masculine' derived from Greek andreios and aner, New Testament apostle Andrew, brother of Simon Peter, Patron saint of Scotland, Russia, Greece, and Romania, Diminutives Andy, Drew, Andie, Dru, Jrue, Visitor rating traits classic, mature, formal, wholesome, strong, Historical namesakes Andrew Jackson and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
- Wiktionary: Andrew — supports Etymology from Old English Andreas, Latin Andreas, Ancient Greek Andreas, Cognate forms and international variants, IPA pronunciation /ˈæn.dɹuː/.
- Behind the Name: Popularity for the name Andrew in the United States — supports US rank #24 in 1880, US rank #5 in 1988 and 2003, US rank #73 in 2025.
