How to say it
AN · der · son
ˈæn.dər.sən
Masculine
Anderson
Son of Andrew
What it means
A Scottish and English surname, 'son of Andrew,' from the Greek Andreas, 'manly.'
Anderson is one of the most common Scottish surnames, 'son of Andrew,' tracing back through Andrew to the Greek Andreas, 'manly' or 'brave.' Since St. Andrew is Scotland's patron, the name runs deep there. It crossed into first-name use on the surname wave, carried in the public ear by Anderson Cooper and the musician Anderson .Paak. It folds down to the friendly Andy or the cooler Anders.
How to spell Anderson
The standard spelling is Anderson. Common variants include Andersen, Andersson, but Anderson is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #215 in 1882, currently #363 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Andy and Anders are the shorts.
- Spelling
Means 'son of Andrew'; Andersen and Andersson are the Danish and Swedish forms.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Anderson Cooper American broadcast journalist
- Anderson .Paak American musician and producer
Spelling variants
- Andersen
- Andersson
Names with the same feeling
See Anderson from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Anderson mean?
- A Scottish and English surname, 'son of Andrew,' from the Greek Andreas, 'manly.'
- What does Anderson mean in Scottish?
- In Scottish, Anderson means "Son of Andrew." Anderson is one of the most common Scottish surnames, 'son of Andrew,' tracing back through Andrew to the Greek Andreas, 'manly' or 'brave.' Since St. Andrew is Scotland's patron, the name runs deep there. It crossed into first-name use on the surname wave, carried in the public ear by Anderson Cooper and the musician Anderson .Paak. It folds down to the friendly Andy or the cooler Anders.
- How do you pronounce Anderson?
- Anderson is pronounced ˈæn.dər.sən. Say it as AN-der-son, with the stress on the "an" syllable.
- How do you spell Anderson?
- The standard spelling is Anderson. Common spelling variants include Andersen, Andersson.
- Is Anderson a boy or girl name?
- Anderson is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Anderson?
- Anderson ranked #363 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.