Andrew

About Andrew

Andrew is an English name of Greek origin meaning “manly” or “masculine.” Familiar through the apostle Andrew and Scotland’s patron saint, it has a long international history. Andy gives it an informal opening, while Drew draws on the ending to create a noticeably different everyday name.

Meaning and origin

Andrew comes from Greek Andreas, related to andreios and the older word aner, meaning “man.” The Greek form passed into Christian naming and developed into forms used throughout Europe. English Andrew keeps a distinctive ending that differs from the more visibly Greek Andreas.

French André, Spanish Andrés, and Italian Andrea belong to the same family. In Italian, Andrea is traditionally masculine, while English-speaking readers often recognize Andrea as a feminine name. These different traditions give Andrew a particularly extensive set of relatives.

The apostle and Scotland

In the New Testament, Andrew is a fisherman, an apostle, and the brother of Simon Peter. Later traditions connected him with an X-shaped cross. That cross became a familiar part of his imagery and, eventually, Scotland’s national flag.

Saint Andrew’s place as Scotland’s patron saint gives the name a strong Scottish association despite its Greek origin. The town of St Andrews and the longstanding tradition surrounding the saint helped keep the name visible in Scottish history and culture.

A modern historical namesake

Andrew Carnegie provides another Scottish connection. Born in Dunfermline, he emigrated to the United States and became a major industrialist and philanthropist. His support for public libraries made his name recognizable in communities far beyond the places where he lived and worked.

Carnegie’s library legacy offers a particular association for someone interested in books or education. It also connects Andrew’s Scottish background with a substantial American historical story, giving the name a different setting from its biblical beginnings.

Pronunciation and nicknames

English normally pronounces Andrew AN-droo, with the stress on the first syllable. The n and d create a firm middle, followed by the open oo ending. That ending gives the full name a more flowing finish than names such as Edward or Richard.

Andy is an established familiar form with a lighter two-syllable rhythm. Drew is shorter and keeps the final sound of the full name. Andrew can therefore support either a nickname that resembles its opening or one that gives it an entirely different first impression.

Related names and style

Andreas, André, and Andrés are useful comparisons when the family connection matters. Matthew, Daniel, and Peter offer a similarly established biblical style in English. Drew has a more compact feel, while the full Andrew preserves the longer historical form.

American usage and historical context

Andrew ranked #73 for boys in the United States in 2025, compared with #30 in 2015. Its largest annual count was 36,206 in 1987. It remains familiar today, with its strongest American concentration in the late twentieth century.