Anderson Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AN-der-sun /ˈændərsən/
Origin: English; Scandinavian
Meaning: Son of Andrew
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Anderson is of Scandinavian origin, derived from the Old Norse name "Andersson," which means "son of Anders." The name Anders itself is a variant of the Greek name "Andreas," meaning "manly" or "brave." The Greek "Andreas" was adopted into Latin as "Andreas" and later into Old French, which influenced its passage into English. The name Anderson entered the English language primarily through the influence of Scandinavian settlers in England during the Viking Age, particularly from the 8th to the 11th centuries, when Norse culture significantly impacted the British Isles.
Historically, the name Anderson has been associated with various notable figures. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in England can be traced back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various forms in legal documents and records.
The name gained further prominence through notable individuals such as Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish author known for his fairy tales, whose works were widely translated and celebrated in the 19th century. Additionally, the name has been borne by various saints and religious figures, contributing to its historical significance.
Culturally, the name Anderson has resonated in various contexts, often symbolizing strength and lineage due to its patronymic nature. In many cultures, surnames that denote "son of" have been significant in tracing family heritage and lineage.
The name has also been associated with various traditions and customs, particularly in Scandinavian countries, where it reflects familial connections and ancestry. The diminutive form "Andy" has emerged as a common nickname, further embedding the name in cultural contexts.
Famous people named Anderson
In this section, you will find notable people named Anderson. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Anderson who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Anderson who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Anderson Cooper is a journalist and television personality best known for Anderson Cooper 360°, CNN News, and his coverage of major world events.
Anderson .Paak is a musician and record producer best known for Malibu, Ventura, and his collaborations with Bruno Mars as Silk Sonic.
Anderson Varejão is a former professional basketball player best known for his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Brazilian national team.
Anderson Silva is a mixed martial artist best known for his reign as UFC Middleweight Champion and his record-setting title defenses.
Anderson Talisca is a professional footballer best known for his time with clubs like Benfica and Al-Nassr.
Fictional characters named Anderson
The following list of fictional characters named Anderson is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Anderson is a fictional character from the film series The Matrix. He is a key member of the resistance against the machines, often referred to as the Oracle's assistant.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Anderson, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Anderson. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Anderson was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Anderson has ranked as high as #506 nationally, which occurred in 2012, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Georgia, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Anderson has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Anderson is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Anderson was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Anderson (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 113 | |
| FL | 77 | |
| CA | 76 | |
| NY | 53 | |
| VA | 52 | |
| GA | 52 | |
| NC | 51 | |
| OH | 41 | |
| TN | 34 | |
| PA | 27 | |
| AL | 25 | |
| KY | 24 | |
| MD | 23 | |
| WA | 21 | |
| IN | 21 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Anderson.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 943 |
| 2023 | 1,008 |
| 2022 | 1,001 |
| 2021 | 1,003 |
| 2020 | 1,083 |
| 2019 | 1,057 |
| 2018 | 1,173 |
| 2017 | 1,201 |
| 2016 | 1,162 |
| 2015 | 1,186 |
| 2014 | 1,163 |
| 2013 | 1,154 |
| 2012 | 1,249 |
| 2011 | 1,145 |
| 2010 | 1,021 |
| 2009 | 1,142 |
| 2008 | 1,017 |
| 2007 | 926 |
| 2006 | 754 |
| 2005 | 496 |
| 2004 | 370 |
| 2003 | 340 |
| 2002 | 281 |
| 2001 | 229 |
| 2000 | 211 |
| 1999 | 208 |
| 1998 | 166 |
| 1997 | 179 |
| 1996 | 178 |
| 1995 | 160 |
| 1994 | 170 |
| 1993 | 143 |
| 1992 | 156 |
| 1991 | 156 |
| 1990 | 136 |
| 1989 | 112 |
| 1988 | 108 |
| 1987 | 91 |
| 1986 | 91 |
| 1985 | 98 |
| 1984 | 81 |
| 1983 | 87 |
| 1982 | 90 |
| 1981 | 71 |
| 1980 | 80 |
| 1979 | 72 |
| 1978 | 81 |
| 1977 | 70 |
| 1976 | 75 |
| 1975 | 65 |
| 1974 | 67 |
| 1973 | 73 |
| 1972 | 77 |
| 1971 | 82 |
| 1970 | 74 |
| 1969 | 71 |
| 1968 | 52 |
| 1967 | 77 |
| 1966 | 72 |
| 1965 | 80 |
| 1964 | 82 |
| 1963 | 58 |
| 1962 | 81 |
| 1961 | 93 |
| 1960 | 84 |
| 1959 | 95 |
| 1958 | 96 |
| 1957 | 104 |
| 1956 | 97 |
| 1955 | 100 |
| 1954 | 118 |
| 1953 | 113 |
| 1952 | 99 |
| 1951 | 103 |
| 1950 | 109 |
| 1949 | 115 |
| 1948 | 96 |
| 1947 | 118 |
| 1946 | 100 |
| 1945 | 96 |
| 1944 | 92 |
| 1943 | 101 |
| 1942 | 113 |
| 1941 | 96 |
| 1940 | 100 |
| 1939 | 102 |
| 1938 | 93 |
| 1937 | 85 |
| 1936 | 106 |
| 1935 | 86 |
| 1934 | 92 |
| 1933 | 105 |
| 1932 | 91 |
| 1931 | 99 |
| 1930 | 122 |
| 1929 | 103 |
| 1928 | 128 |
| 1927 | 129 |
| 1926 | 143 |
| 1925 | 128 |
| 1924 | 138 |
| 1923 | 149 |
| 1922 | 142 |
| 1921 | 129 |
| 1920 | 180 |
| 1919 | 147 |
| 1918 | 134 |
| 1917 | 128 |
| 1916 | 135 |
| 1915 | 121 |
| 1914 | 110 |
| 1913 | 90 |
| 1912 | 85 |
| 1911 | 56 |
| 1910 | 52 |
| 1909 | 50 |
| 1908 | 45 |
| 1907 | 30 |
| 1906 | 46 |
| 1905 | 45 |
| 1904 | 49 |
| 1903 | 30 |
| 1902 | 37 |
| 1901 | 26 |
| 1900 | 56 |
| 1899 | 27 |
| 1898 | 43 |
| 1897 | 46 |
| 1896 | 39 |
| 1895 | 31 |
| 1894 | 50 |
| 1893 | 46 |
| 1892 | 44 |
| 1891 | 30 |
| 1890 | 59 |
| 1889 | 42 |
| 1888 | 46 |
| 1887 | 39 |
| 1886 | 34 |
| 1885 | 42 |
| 1884 | 48 |
| 1883 | 38 |
| 1882 | 58 |
| 1881 | 40 |
| 1880 | 43 |