Anderson Name Meaning

Anderson is a surname of Scottish origin, and it means “son of Andrew.”

Origins of the Name Anderson

Andrew is a name that comes from the Greek word “andreios,” which means “manly” or “warrior.” So, when you name your son Anderson, you’re essentially saying that he’s a son of a warrior! How cool is that?

Popularity of the Name Anderson

Anderson may have started out as a Scottish surname, but it’s since become a popular given name all over the world, including the United States. In fact, Anderson was a top 100 name in the U.S. for several decades in the 20th century. While it’s not quite as popular as it once was, it’s still a well-loved name that has a timeless quality to it.

Famous Andersons

There are plenty of famous people named Anderson, and they come from all walks of life. There’s Anderson Cooper, the news anchor and journalist, as well as Anderson Paak, the musician. And who could forget Anderson Silva, the legendary mixed martial artist?

On the literary side of things, we have Anderson Cooper, the author of several best-selling books, as well as Sherwood Anderson, the writer of “Winesburg, Ohio.” And then, of course, there’s the famous Anderson brothers, including Wes Anderson, the director of quirky indie films like “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” and Owen Wilson, his co-writer and collaborator.

Final Thoughts on the Name Anderson

There are a few things that make Anderson such a great name. First, it has a classic feel to it, which is always in style. But it’s also got a bit of a modern edge, which makes it feel fresh and relevant. And because it’s a surname, it gives a nod to family history, which is always a nice touch.

Additionally, Anderson is a versatile name that can be used in a variety of different ways. For example, you could go with the full Anderson, or you could use Andy as a nickname. And because it’s a surname, it can be easily paired with a wide range of middle and last names, making it a great choice for parents who want a little flexibility when it comes to naming their son.

All in all, Anderson is a name that has a lot going for it. It’s got a classic feel, a modern edge, and plenty of versatility, which makes it a great choice for parents who want a name that will stand the test of time. Whether you’re a fan of the famous Andersons in Hollywood and literature, or you just love the sound of the name, Anderson is definitely one to consider!

Infographic of Anderson name meaning, which is Anderson is an English name meaning son of Andrew.
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Anderson Name Popularity

How popular is the name Anderson? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 277 40 0.0114%
1911 320 37 0.0099%
1912 383 59 0.0117%
1913 419 64 0.0113%
1914 450 75 0.0108%
1915 502 83 0.0091%
1916 458 110 0.0114%
1917 468 108 0.0108%
1918 478 116 0.0108%
1919 463 124 0.0118%
1920 419 161 0.0145%
1921 514 111 0.0097%
1922 497 116 0.0104%
1923 503 112 0.01%
1924 507 115 0.0099%
1925 494 113 0.01%
1926 499 111 0.0101%
1927 510 107 0.0097%
1928 525 97 0.0091%
1929 546 80 0.0077%
1930 503 101 0.0097%
1931 563 73 0.0074%
1932 582 67 0.0068%
1933 559 69 0.0074%
1934 592 66 0.0068%
1935 620 54 0.0056%
1936 566 66 0.0069%
1937 627 52 0.0053%
1938 604 60 0.0059%
1939 546 73 0.0072%
1940 551 76 0.0072%
1941 574 72 0.0064%
1942 557 81 0.0064%
1943 579 78 0.006%
1944 605 62 0.005%
1945 618 57 0.0047%
1946 654 58 0.0039%
1947 627 80 0.0048%
1948 702 52 0.0033%
1949 618 78 0.0048%
1950 663 67 0.0042%
1951 688 63 0.0037%
1952 735 51 0.0029%
1953 653 78 0.0044%
1954 642 87 0.0048%
1955 697 68 0.0037%
1956 715 64 0.0034%
1957 709 68 0.0035%
1958 830 42 0.0022%
1959 825 43 0.0023%
1960 772 57 0.003%
1961 841 42 0.0022%
1962 851 39 0.0021%
1963 962 26 0.0014%
1964 809 46 0.0026%
1965 890 30 0.0018%
1966 1,064 17 0.0011%
1967 1,005 19 0.0013%
1968 920 27 0.0018%
1969 967 27 0.0018%
1970 1,024 27 0.0017%
1971 869 45 0.003%
1972 956 33 0.0024%
1973 1,192 15 0.0012%
1974 1,146 19 0.0015%
1975 1,056 25 0.0019%
1976 1,049 27 0.0021%
1977 1,132 24 0.0018%
1978 1,014 32 0.0024%
1979 1,504 11 0.0008%
1980 1,027 36 0.0025%
1981 1,154 26 0.0018%
1982 988 42 0.0028%
1983 1,000 39 0.0026%
1984 1,062 32 0.0022%
1985 880 58 0.0038%
1986 935 53 0.0035%
1987 944 55 0.0036%
1988 912 66 0.0042%
1989 1,005 60 0.0037%
1990 881 89 0.0054%
1991 838 102 0.0063%
1992 817 114 0.0071%
1993 885 97 0.0062%
1994 856 108 0.007%
1995 799 128 0.0085%
1996 799 133 0.0089%
1997 842 121 0.0082%
1998 876 117 0.0078%
1999 739 171 0.0114%
2000 790 157 0.0103%
2001 747 184 0.0122%
2002 664 234 0.0156%
2003 607 301 0.0198%
2004 597 325 0.0213%
2005 497 458 0.03%
2006 401 719 0.0459%
2007 342 908 0.0575%
2008 326 982 0.0635%
2009 291 1,105 0.0739%
2010 312 994 0.069%
2011 293 1,119 0.0785%
2012 277 1,229 0.0862%
2013 300 1,133 0.0796%
2014 302 1,134 0.0778%
2015 299 1,167 0.0802%
2016 301 1,135 0.0787%
2017 290 1,171 0.0839%
2018 294 1,142 0.0831%
2019 312 1,030 0.0761%
2020 305 1,033 0.0812%
2021 328 969 0.0793%
2022 338 965 0.0731%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Anderson

If you like Anderson, you’ll love these other names like Anderson.

What names sound like Anderson?

If you like how Anderson sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Anderson.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Ander

Lion man

Scandinavian

Andersson

Scandinavian

Andrian

Russian

Andro

Man, warrior

Greek

Andros

Man, warrior

Greek

Antero

Man, warrior

Greek

What names are similar to Anderson?

Find a name that’s like Anderson, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Henderson

Son of Henry

English

Sanderson

Son of Alexander

English

Lists With Anderson

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Anderson.

4 Comments

  1. Unique, nice nickname options. Vowel like his sibling and same initial as his dad

    Reply

  2. Anderson is a surname of Scandinavian origin. Brought to the British Isles by norsemen, Vikings.

    Reply

  3. Anderson is named after my maternal grandpa (last name) so obviously my mother’s maiden name so I liked that aspect too

    I like that it’s a unique FIRST name but not so weird people don’t know how to say it. Bummer a reasonably famous person has the name but maybe it makes it helpful that it’s a little familiar (Anderson cooper) also a reference I’ve gotten a couple times is the matrix movie “Mr Anderson”

    I don’t like the nickname Andy. He’s not 6 months old yet so I believe I can keep that nick name far from him. A nick name we’ve used is Anders

    Reply

  4. Anderson is actually his middle name. His first name is David after his father, but we call him by his middle name. Anderson is my father’s Swedish family name, and was originally spelled Andersson, but the second “s” was dropped when when they emigrated from Sweden to the US in the early 1900s.

    Reply

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