Andrei is a Slavic given name of Greek origin, derived from the Greek word "ἀνήρ" (anēr), which means "man". The name Andrei has been widely used throughout Eastern Europe and Russia for centuries.
The name Andrei first appeared in the Byzantine Empire during the Middle Ages. It was originally used by the Byzantine imperial family as a personal name before being adopted by the Slavic peoples. Over time, variations of the name spread throughout Eastern Europe, including Andrei in Russian, Andrzej in Polish, Ondřej in Czech, and András in Hungarian.
In Russia, Andrei has been one of the most popular given names for boys since the Middle Ages. It was especially favored among the Russian nobility and was often bestowed upon heirs to the throne. Some notable figures with the name Andrei include Andrei Rublev, a famous 15th-century icon painter, Andrei Sakharov, a Soviet nuclear physicist and human rights activist, and Andrei Tarkovsky, a renowned film director.
The name Andrei has also been used in other Slavic countries besides Russia. In Poland, for instance, Andrzej Duda is the current President of the Republic of Poland. Meanwhile, in Serbia, Andrei has been traditionally spelled "Andrija," as seen with the 14th-century Serbian prince Stefan Uroš IV Dušan, who was also known as King Andrija.
In modern times, Andrei continues to be a popular given name throughout Eastern Europe and beyond. Its enduring popularity can likely be attributed to its historical significance and cultural relevance in the region, as well as its timeless meaning of "man.
The name Andrei has been given to a total of 2,977 babies born in the United States between 1948 and 2023, according to the statistics provided.
From 1948 to 1959, the popularity of the name Andrei was relatively low, with fewer than 18 births per year. However, starting in 1960, there was a significant increase in its usage, with at least 17 births each year until 1973.
Between 1974 and 1989, the number of babies named Andrei varied, ranging from 14 to 32 births per year. The name reached peak popularity between 1990 and 2006, with at least 32 births each year, peaking in 2006 with 119 births.
From 2007 onwards, the popularity of the name Andrei started to decline, but it remained relatively consistent, with between 60 and 94 births per year. In recent years, from 2018 to 2023, there were an average of 71 births per year.
Overall, these statistics show that while Andrei was not one of the most popular names in the United States during this period, it has maintained a consistent level of popularity since its peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s.