boy's name
Anderson
AN-der-sun
- Origin Scottish
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 3
- Letters 8
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 38,733
the United States
#363
2025 births
Anderson is a boy's name of Scottish and Scandinavian origin meaning "son of Andrew". Andrew comes from the Greek andreas, built on the word for a man, so the name carries a sense of manliness two languages back.
- Anderson is a name of Scottish origin.
- Peaked in 2012, when 1,294 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 3,073 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Anderson over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 430 |
| 1890s | 415 |
| 1900s | 414 |
| 1910s | 1,058 |
| 1920s | 1,369 |
| 1930s | 981 |
| 1940s | 1,032 |
| 1950s | 1,034 |
| 1960s | 749 |
| 1970s | 736 |
| 1980s | 924 |
| 1990s | 1,763 |
| 2000s | 6,000 |
| 2010s | 12,098 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 6,643 |
What Anderson means
Anderson means son of Andrew, and Andrew means manly, from the Greek aner, a man. The surname is among the most common in Scotland, where Andrew is the national patron saint.
Where Anderson comes from
Anderson is a patronymic from Andrew, from the Greek Andreas, derived from aner, andros, a man, giving a sense of manly or courageous. Saint Andrew was the first-called of the apostles and became the patron of Scotland, which is why the name saturated Scottish naming and why Anderson is one of the country's most common surnames. Scandinavian Andersson and Andersen are formed the same way from the same saint. First-name use is modern and American, and in Brazil Anderson has been a widespread given name since the mid-twentieth century.
Anderson in use
Anderson appears in our records in every year from 1880 and peaked in 2012.
How popular is Anderson?
In 2025, Anderson was given to 1,079 babies in the United States, ranking #363 that year. It is a well-established, commonly used name.
Where Anderson is used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Anderson
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Anderson also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Anderson over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
2 nicknames for Anderson
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Anderson in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Anderson
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Anderson — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Anderson
What does the name Anderson mean?
Son of Andrew. Andrew comes from the Greek andreas, from aner, a man, giving a sense of manly.
Is Anderson a Scottish name?
It is one of the most common Scottish surnames, because Saint Andrew is Scotland's patron and the name saturated Scottish naming.
Is Anderson a boy's or a girl's name?
It is given almost entirely to boys.
How popular is the name Anderson?
In 2025, Anderson was given to 1,079 babies in the United States, ranking #363 that year. It is a well-established, commonly used name.
How many syllables are in Anderson?
Anderson has 3 syllables.
When was Anderson most popular?
Anderson peaked in 2012, when 1,294 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Anderson?
Anderson is usually shortened to Andy and Anders.
Is Anderson a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Anderson currently ranks #363 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.