André is a masculine given name of French origin and meaning. It is derived from the Old French name Andreas, which in turn comes from the Greek name Ἀνδρέας (Andreas). The Greek name means "manly" or "courageous," deriving from the element ἀνήρ (anēr), meaning "man."
The name André has been used throughout history and across various cultures. It was borne by several notable figures, such as André the Coptic, a Christian martyr of the 4th century; André Bessette (1845-1937), a Holy Cross brother who is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church; and André Breton (1896-1966), a French poet and one of the founders of Surrealism.
In some cases, Andre can also be used as a surname. It originated as an occupational name for a man who was brave or strong, or perhaps as a nickname for someone with the qualities associated with the name.
Today, André remains a popular choice among parents looking for a name that is classic yet distinct. It has consistently ranked among the top 1000 names in the United States since record-keeping began in the early 20th century. Despite its French origin, André is used around the world and can be found in various spellings such as Andrei, Andrej, Andrés, and Andrea when used as a feminine name.
In summary, André is a strong and distinguished name with ancient roots and widespread appeal. Its meaning conveys courage and manliness, qualities that have likely contributed to its enduring popularity over the centuries.
Here are some interesting statistics about the name Andre over the years in the United States:
From 1880 to 1945, there were fluctuations in the number of births with the name Andre. In the early years, there were fewer than ten births each year. However, starting from 1946, there was a significant increase in popularity, with over 200 births per year consistently until 1970.
In 1953, there were 622 births with the name Andre, marking it as a notable year for this particular name. This number continued to rise, reaching an all-time high of 2578 births in 1964 and remaining above 2000 births per year until 1970.
Despite some fluctuations in popularity over the years, Andre has maintained a steady presence among baby names. For instance, in recent years (from 2013 to 2022), there have been between 1063 and 1325 births each year with the name Andre.