Ander
Uncommonly handsome; warrior; courageous one; strong soldier.
Name Census estimates that about 3,964 living Americans carry the first name Ander. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ander today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ander births was 2023 (516 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ander. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Ander is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 10 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
4.0K
~ 1 in 86,467 Americans
Peak year
2023
516 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#585
Tracked since 1908
Popularity
Ander: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ander from the 1900s through to the 2020s, spanning 13 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 2,375 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ander by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ander during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Anders live
The SSA's state-level files cover 37 states and territories. Texas, California, Florida recorded the most babies named Ander, while Nevada, Nebraska, Arkansas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 75 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ander
The name Ander has its origins in the Basque language, which is spoken primarily in the Basque Country, a region spanning parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. The name is believed to have derived from the Basque word "andera," meaning "lady" or "woman of stature."
In Basque culture, the name Ander was traditionally given to boys as a way to honor and respect women, reflecting the importance placed on mothers and female figures in the community. The name's usage can be traced back to at least the 16th century, with records showing its presence in various Basque regions during that time.
One of the earliest known historical references to the name Ander can be found in the 16th-century Basque literary work "Linguae Vasconum Primitiae" by Bernard Etxepare, considered the first printed book in the Basque language. The work contains a poem addressed to a woman named Ander, highlighting the name's connection to the Basque culture and language.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Ander. One of the most famous was Ander Deuna (Saint Ander), a Basque saint from the 6th century who is celebrated for his role in spreading Christianity in the region. Another prominent figure was Ander Gartzia Artzadun (1068-1090), a Basque nobleman and lord of Biscay during the 11th century.
In the field of literature, Ander Arratibel Olanguren (1939-2005) was a renowned Basque writer and poet known for his works that explored Basque identity and culture. The name Ander has also been carried by influential figures in sports, such as Ander Herrera (born 1989), a Spanish professional footballer who has played for clubs like Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.
Additionally, Ander Mirambell (1944-2019) was a prominent Basque artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited internationally, reflecting the cultural significance of the name in the arts.
While the name Ander has its roots in the Basque region, it has gained popularity and recognition beyond its place of origin, with people from various backgrounds adopting it as a unique and culturally significant name.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Ander
People
Ander + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ander as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ander: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ander?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3,964 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ander going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 86,467 US residents.
Is Ander a common name?
We classify Ander as "Rare". It ranks above 96% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 4,182 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ander most popular?
The single biggest year for Ander was 2023, when 516 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ander is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ander a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ander in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.