Anders
Anders was the 984th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 232 babies. Its best year was 2014, when it ranked 750th with 316 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 187 places. More babies were named Anders in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Scandinavian form of Andrew; 'manly' · Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Greek
Say it AN-derz /ˈændɚz/
- Rank in 2025
- #984 boys, down 157 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 232boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2014316 babies
- Total since 1880
- 8,031babies recorded
What does the name Anders mean?
Anders is the Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and Icelandic form of Andrew, as Wiktionary notes. Andrew comes from Greek Andreas, from anēr, andros 'man', associated with andreios 'manly, brave'. The apostle Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, made the name common in medieval Europe. In the US Anders is used mainly by families of Scandinavian descent.
Ἀνδρέας (Andreas) (Ancient Greek, “Andrew”)ἀνήρ (anēr) (Ancient Greek, “man”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Pronunciation: Scandinavian: AHN-ders.
Related names: Andrew, Andreas, Anderson, Andrés.
See also: Greek names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Anders', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Andrew', DMNES (Durham University)
Anders popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 5 since 2024.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #984 | 232 |
| 2020 | #827 | 278 |
| 2010 | #940 | 214 |
| 2000 | #1,070 | 133 |
| 1990 | #1,181 | 85 |
| 1980 | #1,912 | 29 |
| 1970 | #1,495 | 32 |
| 1960 | #1,773 | 21 |
| 1950 | #2,210 | 12 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | #2,770 | 10 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Anders, counting every spelling?
Anders has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #946 for boys in 2025, against #984 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Anders?
232 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Anders (0.06 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Anders born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 36 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Anders.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Anders?
About 7,600 people born in the US named Anders are alive today, with a median age of 15; half are between 8 and 27. That makes Anders mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Anders by state
How common Anders was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Minnesota (5.7×), Utah (5.4×), Washington (3.0×), Colorado (2.8×), Wisconsin (1.9×). In 19 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Anders: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Anders, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Anders · Sibling names for Anders
Questions about the name Anders
What does Anders mean?
Anders means “Scandinavian form of Andrew; 'manly'” (Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Greek origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Anders?
Anders was the 984th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 232 babies. Its best year was 2014, when it ranked 750th with 316 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 187 places. More babies were named Anders in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Anders a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Anders in the US.
Where is Anders most popular?
In 2021–2025, Anders was most common in North Dakota (0.94 per 1,000 boys), followed by Minnesota and Utah.