Andrew

Oh, Andrew. It’s one of those boy names that never goes out of style. Parents of The Bump community put it best: “My two-year-old is named Andrew. We love it! He’s rarely called Andrew, though; he goes by Drew. We haven't met any other boys with the same name. It’s such a classic—and it’s hard not to like!” says forum contributor drewsmomma.

Tracing Andrew back to its historical and biblical roots, it’s easy to see why the moniker is such a hit. In Greek, Andrew comes from the word andreios, meaning “manly” or “masculine.” In Christianity, it’s most notably associated with Jesus’ first apostle—a kind and honorable man devoted to his faith and others. Andrew can also translate to “strong” or “stubborn”—and you really can’t ask for more when a moniker strikes that delicate balance between timeless, grounded and soulful.

Andrew isn’t just your evergreen staple—it’s a Hollywood classic and the perfect choice if you dream of seeing baby’s name on the Walk of Fame. Andrew Garfield from The Amazing Spider-Man and Andrew Scott from Fleabag are a few famous Andrews you’ll recognize—not to mention the one and only Dame Julie Andrews.

Fun Facts About the Name Andrew

• The name that inspired a national flag: St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, was the muse behind the nation’s flag (aka, the Saltire). The “X” in the flag symbolizes the X-shaped cross St. Andrew was martyred on.
• A top boy name for decades: According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), Andrew was unstoppable. In fact, its longest stint in the top 10 lasted from 1986 to 2007, marking two whole decades as one of the most popular boy names in the US.
• An Italian exception: While Andrew is technically masculine-only in most countries, its direct Italian equivalent, Andrea, is considered feminine in the English-speaking world.