The story behind Anderson
From Middle English Ander (“Andrew”) + -son, after Saint Andrew, patron saint of Scotland. In the United States, sometimes an anglicization of Danish and Norwegian Andersen or Swedish Andersson.
Other language forms and explanations (2)
Portuguese entry
Unadapted borrowing from English Anderson.
Spanish entry
Unadapted borrowing from English Anderson.
Pronunciation
US: /ˈæn.dɚ.sən/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Portuguese; Brazil: /ˈɐ̃.deʁ.sõ/
- Portuguese; Brazil: [ˈɐ̃.deh.sõ]
- Portuguese; São-Paulo: /ˈɐ̃.deɾ.sõ/
- Portuguese; Rio-de-Janeiro: /ˈɐ̃.deʁ.sõ/
- Portuguese; Rio-de-Janeiro: [ˈɐ̃.deχ.sõ]
- Portuguese; Caipira: /ˈɐ̃.deɻ.sõ/
- Portuguese; Portugal: /ˈɐ̃.dɨɾ.sɔn/
- Spanish: /ˈandeɾson/
- Spanish: [ˈãn̪.d̪eɾ.sõn]
Popularity
Anderson ranked #1243 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Anderson
Álisson
Borrowed from English Alisson.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Allison
From a Middle English diminutive form of Alan, Alexander or Alice + -son. Borrowed from English Allison.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Amílton
Variant of Hamílton, in turn from English Hamilton.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ânderson
Borrowed from English Anderson.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Darlington
From Middle English Dearnington, Derlinton, from Old English Dēornōþingtūn, supposedly “the settlement of Dēornōþ's people”, from an unclear root + -ing + tūn. Compare Old…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Hamilton
From Old English *Hameldūne, from hamel (“blunt, flat-topped”) + dūne (“hill”). The Scottish surname is from the place in Leicestershire. The dollar-bill sense is from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Anderson
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abby
Borrowed from English Abby in the 20th century. Borrowed from English Abby.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Agnes
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἁγνή (Hagnḗ), coming from Ancient Greek ἁγνός (hagnós, “pure, chaste”), Ancient Greek ἁγνεία (hagneía, “purity, chastity”). Doublet of Inez.…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Anderson
Baxter
From Middle English bakster, bakestre, from Old English bæcestre (“baker”), equivalent to bake + -ster.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Bernadette
From French Bernadette, made famous by St. Bernadette of Lourdes. Borrowed from English Bernadette, from French Bernadette.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Bessie
Borrowed from English Bessie.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length