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 experienced significant fluctuations over the past century. It was quite popular from the late 1970s to the early 1980s, with a peak of 60 births in 1983, but saw a sharp decline afterwards until the mid-1990s. Since then, it has consistently remained among the more common names, with notable spikes in recent years, reaching an all-time high of 316 births in 2014 and remaining above 200 births annually thereafter.