Anders is a Scandinavian name of Norwegian origin. It is derived from the Old Norse name Andersen, which was an occupational surname given to a son of Anders. The name Anders itself means "manly" or "strong" in Old Norse.
The popularity of the name Anders can be traced back to medieval times when it was a common name among the Scandinavian nobility. It is believed that King Olaf II of Norway, who ruled from 1069 to 1093, had a son named Anders, which may have contributed to the name's popularity.
Over time, Anders has become associated with several notable figures in Scandinavia and beyond. For example, Anders Celsius was an 18th-century Swedish astronomer who is best known for creating the Celsius temperature scale. Similarly, Anders Jonas Ångström was a 19th-century Swedish physicist and chemist who made significant contributions to spectroscopy.
Today, Anders remains a popular name throughout Scandinavia and has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly among those with Scandinavian ancestry or who are drawn to the name's strong and manly connotations.
The name Anders has seen a varied trend in popularity over the past century in the United States. Between 1912 and 1962, the number of babies named Anders fluctuated between 5 and 24 annually, with most years seeing fewer than 10 births.
Starting in 1963, there was a notable increase in popularity for the name Anders, with 24 births recorded that year. This trend continued into the 1970s, reaching a peak of 42 births in 1978. However, the number of babies named Anders began to decline in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with fewer than 30 births recorded each year between 1980 and 1985.
In the mid-1980s, there was another resurgence in popularity for the name Anders, with over 60 births recorded each year between 1985 and 1992. This trend continued into the late 1990s and early 2000s, with the number of babies named Anders reaching triple digits for the first time in history in 2003 (153 births) and again in 2006 (186 births).
Since 2007, the popularity of the name Anders has continued to grow steadily. Between 2007 and 2023, there were over 200 births recorded each year for the name Anders, with a peak of 316 births in 2014. As of 2023, the total number of babies named Anders in the United States since 1912 is 7,495.
Despite its ups and downs in popularity over the years, it's clear that the name Anders has become increasingly common in recent decades, with a significant increase in the number of babies receiving this name since the turn of the century.