Originating from Scottish and Irish heritage, the given name Anderson is derived from the surname which was formed as an English language patronymic surname meaning 'son of Andrew'. It has been in use as a first name since the 18th century. Anderson is composed of two elements: 'Andrew', a personal name derived from the Greek 'Ἀνδρέας' (Andreas), which means 'strong, manly'; and 'son', indicating that it's a patronymic surname or given name meaning 'son of Andrew'. It gained significant popularity as a first name in the United States during the mid-20th century. Notable individuals named Anderson include American actors Anderson Silva and Anderson Cooper.
The name Anderson experienced a steady increase in popularity from the late 20th century to the present day, with a significant spike occurring in recent years.