Name profile
Anderson
masculine
This reflects the first name on its own. The full-name report scores the complete combination separately.
Check it with a full name ↓Patronymic surname meaning "son of Andrew" (itself from Greek "Andreas," "man, brave, manly"), used as a modern given name via surname transfer. In England the surname is first recorded as William Andreu (1237, Buckinghamshire); in Scotland it developed from "Fitz Andreu" and the Gaelic patronymic "MacGhilleAndrais" ("servant of St. Andrew"), reflecting Andrew's status as Scotland's patron saint. In North America the name additionally absorbed anglicized forms of the Scandinavian surnames "Andersen"/"Anderssen."
Why it works
- English speakers will almost certainly pronounce it correctly on the first try
Popularity
Distinctive — #363 in the latest U.S. ranking.
Meaning and origin
Anderson means Son of Andrew (Andrew itself deriving from Greek "andreios," meaning "manly, brave").
Functions today mainly as a modern given name transferred from a patronymic surname; in surname use it is strongly associated with Scottish clan identity (tied to Andrew as Scotland's patron saint) and, separately, with Scandinavian immigrant families in North America whose "-sen" surnames (Andersen, Anderssen) were commonly anglicized to "Anderson."
Documented origin: Patronymic surname meaning "son of Andrew" (itself from Greek "Andreas," "man, brave, manly"), used as a modern given name via surname transfer. In England the surname is first recorded as William Andreu (1237, Buckinghamshire); in Scotland it developed from "Fitz Andreu" and the Gaelic patronymic "MacGhilleAndrais" ("servant of St. Andrew"), reflecting Andrew's status as Scotland's patron saint. In North America the name additionally absorbed anglicized forms of the Scandinavian surnames "Andersen"/"Anderssen."
How it travels
English and Turkish are shown by default; German is included when it adds a meaningfully different reading.
Spelling stability: high — based on letter-pattern analysis, not a documented linguistic fact.
Also documented
British English: AN-də-sən
Popularity without panic
Distinctive — #363 in the latest U.S. ranking.
Recognizable without feeling overused.
Full-name check
This rhythm preview stays in your browser only — it's never sent anywhere unless you choose to generate a report below.
No account required. Your report gets a private, unlisted link — it's never added to Anderson's public name page, and surnames are never shown publicly.
Real-world considerations
- Spelling note: Andersen.
Explore alternatives
Documented as a related name or variant form.
Documented as a related name or variant form.