Andrew — Meaning, Origin & Everything to Know

Andrew means 'manly, strong, courageous' — a Greek name from Greek.

With Greek roots and the meaning 'manly, strong, courageous', Andrew rewards a closer look. Because it rests on Greek rather than passing fashion, Andrew carries a sense of history that many parents look for. As a son's name, Andrew suggests resilience, power and steadfastness and travels comfortably across languages. Part of the draw of Andrew is that it feels current without being invented, and meaningful without being heavy.

Quick facts about the name Andrew
NameAndrew
MeaningAt its core, Andrew carries the meaning 'manly, strong, courageous', rooted in Greek
OriginGreek
LanguageGreek
GenderBoy
Numerology number11
PronunciationAND-rew
Popularity tierTier 2

What Does the Name Andrew Mean?

At its core, Andrew carries the meaning 'manly, strong, courageous', rooted in Greek.

Historically, Andrew took shape among Greek speakers, for whom naming a son was an act of meaning. Across generations the meaning 'manly, strong, courageous' held firm while Andrew passed through families, migration and changing fashion.

Modern parents tend to hear Andrew as fresh rather than old-fashioned, with 'manly, strong, courageous' giving it a positive, aspirational edge. That mix of everyday wearability and real meaning is a large part of why Andrew found favour around the 2010s.

The imagery around Andrew is one of resilience, power and steadfastness, deepened by the Greek tradition behind it.

Origin & Etymology of Andrew

Greek · Greek

Trace Andrew back and you reach Greek and the meaning 'manly, strong, courageous'. Andrew spread outward with migration, recognised now well beyond its Greek origin and worn across very different cultures.

Andrew holds a meaningful place in the Greek tradition, its sense of resilience, power and steadfastness tied to long-standing cultural values.

How Greek names are chosen

Greek naming is close to an algorithm, which is why the same names recur down a family for centuries: the eldest son takes his paternal grandfather's name and the eldest daughter her paternal grandmother's, with later children drawing on the mother's side. The name is usually settled within the first week or ten days, the christening following at around forty days, and by custom the godfather has the final word. Because so many names are saints' names, most Greeks keep a name day — the saint's feast — as well as a birthday, and it is often the more sociable of the two. Regional patron saints show up plainly in the distribution: Spyridon clusters on Corfu, Gerasimos on Kefalonia, Dionysios on Zakynthos.

How to Pronounce Andrew

AND-rewBreak Andrew into AND-rew and it falls into place. From Greek roots: vowels are open and clearly sounded.

Popularity of the Name Andrew

In terms of usage, Andrew has held a steady place, most associated with the 2010s.

Personality Traits Associated with Andrew

People often picture someone called Andrew as grounded and strong. Both the 'manly, strong, courageous' meaning and the rhythm of Andrew feed that picture. Where names are tied to character, Andrew is read as a name of resilience, power and steadfastness. A name is only a starting impression, and Andrew's happens to be a kindly one — a quiet plus that frames the numerology and zodiac notes below.

Andrew Numerology

The name Andrew carries the numerology number 11.

Run Andrew through Pythagorean numerology and it settles on 11 — the Intuitive (master number) — vision and insight. Tradition holds that a 11 shapes someone's natural motivations and way of relating to others. Paired with Andrew's sense of 'manly, strong, courageous', that 11 gives numerology-minded parents extra to consider.

See the full meaning of number 11 on NumberAngel →

Andrew & Zodiac Connection

Andrew sits naturally alongside determined Capricorn and bold Aries, signs whose temperament matches its mood. Curious how a baby named Andrew might pair with their actual star sign?

Curious what your baby's zodiac sign reveals? Explore GetMyHoro →

Nicknames for Andrew

Drew, Andy

Names Similar to Andrew

Sibling Names That Go With Andrew

Try the Sibling Name Generator →

Middle Names for Andrew

Andrew James · Andrew Michael · Andrew Thomas · Andrew Daniel · Andrew Hugh · Andrew Cole

Find more with the Middle Name Generator →

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Frequently Asked Questions

+What does the name Andrew mean?

Andrew means 'manly, strong, courageous'. It comes from Greek and is linked with resilience, power and steadfastness, which makes it a meaningful choice for a son.

+What is the origin of Andrew?

Andrew is Greek in origin, from Greek.

+What is the numerology number for Andrew?

In Pythagorean numerology Andrew reduces to 11 — the Intuitive (master number) — vision and insight.

+Is Andrew a popular name?

Andrew has stayed steadily popular, with its strongest momentum in the 2010s.

+Is Andrew suitable for any gender?

Andrew is most often used as a boy's name, though naming is personal and the meaning 'manly, strong, courageous' suits any child.

+What are good nicknames for Andrew?

Common nicknames for Andrew include Drew, Andy; families also invent their own at home.

+What names pair well with Andrew for a sibling?

Names such as Thomas, Michael, Daniel sit well beside Andrew, sharing a complementary style.