Andrew

Manly; masculine

Andrew is an English masculine name with Greek roots and the traditional meaning “manly”. That old meaning belongs to the history of the name, rather than setting expectations for the person who wears it. Its two-syllable English pronunciation is /ˈæn.druː/: stress the first syllable and let the ending rhyme with “blue”. The firm middle consonants give Andrew some weight, while the long final vowel softens the finish. To our ear, the result feels classic and warm without being elaborate. Andy and Drew offer two different everyday moods: Andy feels relaxed and companionable, while Drew has a cleaner, more compact shape. Andrew can therefore suit someone who likes a substantial full name with room for a less formal introduction. The name also carries a Scottish cultural connection through Saint Andrew, Scotland’s patron saint. That association is distinct from its Greek linguistic roots. Andreas, French André and Spanish Andrés belong to the same name family, with their own spellings and sounds.

Etymology: Andrew is the English form of Greek Andreas. Its root is the Greek word for “man”; the English spelling came through Latin and French forms.