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.
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–present. 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