Anders is a male name in

Scandinavian languages The North Germanic languages make up one of the three branches of the Germanic languages—a sub-family of the Indo-European languages—along with the West Germanic languages and the extinct East Germanic languages. The language group is also r ...

and Fering North Frisian, an equivalent of the Greek

Andreas Andreas ( el, Ἀνδρέας) is a name usually given to males in Austria, Greece, Cyprus, Denmark, Armenia, Estonia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Finland, Flanders, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Romania, the Netherlands, and Indonesia. The name ...

("manly") and the English

Andrew Andrew is the English form of a given name common in many countries. In the 1990s, it was among the top ten most popular names given to boys in List of countries where English is an official language, English-speaking countries. "Andrew" is freq ...

. It originated from Andres via metathesis. In Sweden, Anders has been one of the most common names for many centuries, earliest attested in 1378. It was common for priests and farmers during medieval times. According to Statistics Sweden, as of 31 December 2002 it ranks 4th among the male names. The great frequency of this name at the point in time (around 1900) when

patronymic A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. Patronymics are still in use, including mandatory use, in many countries worldwide, alt ...

s were converted into family names is the reason why 1 out of every 30 Swedes today is called

Andersson Andersson (previously Andjersson) is a Swedish language surname, a form of the surname Anderson. ''Andersson'' is, if several spelling variants are included, the most common surname in Sweden.name day In Christianity, a name day is a tradition in many countries of Europe and the Americas, among other parts of Christendom. It consists of celebrating a day of the year that is associated with one's baptismal name, which is normatively that of a ...

of Anders in the Scandinavian calendar is 30 November, and in the old peasant superstition that day was important for determining what the

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year ...

weather would be. If it was very cold on 30 November there would be much sleet on Christmas (and vice versa). In Denmark Donald Duck's name is ''Anders And''. The Fering name Anders may have been borrowed from the Danish version.

People

Given name

A–E

Anders Aarum Anders Aarum (born 17 December 1974 in Moss, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz pianist, known from numerous albums and international collaborations like Sonny Simmons, Ola Kvernberg, Tine Asmundsen, Sigurd Køhn, Børre Dalhaug, Nora Brockstedt and Ev ...

(born 1974), Norwegian jazz pianist * Anders Aalborg (1914–2000), Canadian teacher and politician *

Anders Ahlgren Anders Oscar Ahlgren (12 February 1888 – 27 December 1976) was a Swedish Greco-Roman wrestler. He was a world champion in 1913 and finished second in 1911 and 1922. At the 1912 Summer Olympics, Ahlgren won the silver medal in the light heavyw ...

(1888–1976), Swedish Greco-Roman wrestler * Anders Andersen (1912–2006), Danish politician *

Anders Antonsen Anders Antonsen (born 27 April 1997) is a Danish badminton player. He won the gold medal at the 2015 European Junior Championships in the boys singles event, and at the same year was awarded the European Young Player of the Year. Together with th ...

(born 1997), Danish badminton player * Anders Anundsen (born 1975), Norwegian politician * Anders Aplin (born 1991), Singapore football player * Anders Arborelius (born 1949), Swedish Roman Catholic cardinal * Anders Askevold (1834–1900), Norwegian painter * Anders August (born 1978), Danish screenwriter * Anders Aukland (born 1972), Norwegian cross-country skier * Anders Bjork, American NHL player for the

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, along w ...

* Anders Björklund (born 1945), Swedish neuroscientist *

Anders Björler Anders Björler (born 26 February 1973) is a Swedish musician, composer and film director. He is best known as the guitar player in the metal bands The Haunted and At the Gates, alongside his bass-playing twin brother Jonas Björler. Björle ...

(born 1973), Swedish musician and songwriter *

Anders Blume Anders Blume (born December 7, 1985) is a Danish '' Counter-Strike: Global Offensive'' commentator and co-founder of RoomOnFire. He has been present as a caster at all of the Valve sponsored CS:GO Majors, with the exception of EMS One Katowice 20 ...

(born in 1985), Danish CS:GO commentator *

Anders Behring Breivik Fjotolf Hansen (born 13 February 1979), better known by his birth name Anders Behring Breivik () and by his pseudonym Andrew Berwick, is a Norwegian far-right domestic terrorist, known for committing the 2011 Norway attacks on 22 July 2011. On ...

(born 1979), Norwegian terrorist and right-wing extremist *

Anders Boesen Anders Ploug Boesen (born 6 March 1976) is a former professional badminton player from Denmark. He has represented Denmark in international tournaments such as in World Championships, Sudirman Cup, Thomas Cup and European Championships. Anders B ...

(born 1976), Danish badminton player * Anders Brännström (born 1957), Swedish Army major general *

Anders Callert Major General Anders Bertil Callert (born 10 May 1965) is a Swedish Army officer. Callert served as Assistant Chief of Armed Forces Training & Procurement from 2016 to 2021. He currently serves as head of the Swedish delegation to the Neutral Na ...

(born 1965), Swedish Army major general *

Anders Carlsson (ice hockey) Anders "Masken" Carlsson (born 25 November 1960 in Gävle, Sweden) is a Swedish retired ice hockey center who played parts of three seasons with the New Jersey Devils in the National Hockey League and many seasons in the Elitserien for ...

(born 1960), "Masken", Swedish ice hockey player *

Anders Celsius Anders Celsius (; 27 November 170125 April 1744) was a Swedish astronomer, physicist and mathematician. He was professor of astronomy at Uppsala University from 1730 to 1744, but traveled from 1732 to 1735 visiting notable observatories in Germ ...

(1701–1744), Swedish astronomer * Anders Danielsen Lie (born 1979), Norwegian actor, musician and medical doctor *

Anders Eklund (boxer) Anders Eklund (22 December 1957 – 1 April 2010) was a Swedish boxer. He was nicknamed ''Lillen'' (Swedish: "Tiny"), but later chose the nickname "Viking". Eklund was born in Gävle. He competed in the Heavyweight division (91 kg) at ...

(1957–2010), Swedish boxer * Anders Eriksson (born 1975), Swedish ice hockey player

F–L

* Anders Fannemel (born 1991), Norwegian ski jumper * Anders Frandsen (1960-c. 2012), Danish actor and musician, Danish representative in the

1991 Eurovision Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest 1991 was the 36th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Rome, Italy, following the country's victory at the with the song " Insieme: 1992" by Toto Cutugno and was organised by the European ...

Anders Fridén Pär Anders Fridén (born 25 March 1973) is a Swedish vocalist, best known as the lead singer of heavy metal band In Flames. He was also the vocalist of Dark Tranquillity and Passenger, a side project. Career Early career Fridén was original ...

(born 1973), Swedish death metal singer for the band In Flames * Anders Gärderud (born 1946), Swedish steeplechase runner * Anders Abraham Grafström (1790–1870), Swedish poet and historian * Anders Hedberg (born 1951), Swedish pioneering ice hockey player * Anders Hejlsberg (born 1960), Danish software engineer * Anders Holm, American writer and one of the stars and creators of the Comedy Central show ''Workaholics'' * Anders Holmertz (born 1968), Swedish retired swimmer, twice freestyle world champion *

Anders Jacobsen (ski jumper) Anders Jacobsen (; born 17 February 1985) is a Norwegian former ski jumper. He competed at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics and won a team bronze medal in the large hill event in 2010. He is the youngest Norwegian winner of Four Hills Tournament ...

(born 1985), Norwegian ski jumper *

Anders Järryd Anders Per Järryd (; born 13 July 1961) is a former professional tennis player from Sweden. During his career he won eight Grand Slam doubles titles (three French Open, two Wimbledon, two US Open, one Australian Open), reached the world No ...

(born 1961), Swedish former tennis doubles player, winner of eight Grand Slam titles *

Anders Kaliff Anders Kaliff (born 1963) is a Swedish archaeologist. Kaliff has worked as chief of the archaeology department of the Swedish National Heritage Board, and led archaeological excavations throughout Northern Europe and Asia. Since 2008 he has been ...

(born 1963), Swedish archaeologist * Anders Lange (1904–1974), Norwegian politician * Anders Langlands, visual effects supervisor * Anders Lee (born 1990), American ice hockey player for the New York Islanders * Anders Limpar (born 1965), Swedish footballer * Anders Lindegaard (born 1984), Danish footballer * Anders Linderoth (born 1950), Swedish professional football player and coach * Anders Lindström (born 1969), Swedish rock guitarist and pianist * Anders Lindström (born 1955), Swedish Army officer *

Anders Lustgarten Anders Lustgarten is a British playwright, who resides in London. Early life Lustgarten is the child of progressive American academics; his mother is Donna Dickenson. He read Chinese Studies at Oxford before heading to Berkeley in California to ...

, British playwright *

Anders Olson Lysne Anders Olson Lysne (born 1764, died 1803), was a farmer who led the Lærdal farmers' rebellion from 1800 to 1802. The rebellion began after the government of Denmark-Norway ordered that the farmers of Lærdal had to do compulsory military service ...

(1764-1803), Norwegian rebel leader

M–Z

* Anders Nilsen (disambiguation), multiple people * Anders Örne (1881–1956), Swedish politician * Anders Österberg (born 1981), Swedish politician * Anders Holch Povlsen (born 1972), Danish billionaire, CEO and sole owner of the international retail clothing chain Bestseller *

Anders Sandøe Ørsted Anders Sandøe Ørsted (21 December 1778 – 1 May 1860) was a Danish lawyer, politician and jurist. He served as the Prime Minister of Denmark in 1853–1854. Biography He studied philosophy and law at the University of Copenhagen and was ...

(1778–1860), Danish politician and jurist, Prime Minister of Denmark (1853–1854) *

Anders Sandøe Ørsted (botanist) Anders Sandøe Ørsted, also written as ''Anders Sandoe Oersted'' or ''Anders Sandö Örsted'' (21 June 1816 – 3 September 1872) was a Danish botanist, mycologist, zoologist and marine biologist. He was the nephew of physicist Hans Christi ...

(1816–1872), Danish botanist, mycologist, zoologist and marine biologist, nephew of the prime minister *

Anders Rapp Anders Rapp (1927–1998) was a Swedish geomorphologist and geographer who pioneered quantitative geomorphological approach on mass movements and erosion. He was the first to make a comprehensive study on avalanche boulder tongues. Most of Rapp' ...

(1927–1998), Swedish geographer *

Anders Fogh Rasmussen Anders Fogh Rasmussen (; born 26 January 1953) is a Danish politician who was the 24th Prime Minister of Denmark from November 2001 to April 2009 and the 12th Secretary General of NATO from August 2009 to October 2014. He became CEO of polit ...

(born 1953), Danish politician, Secretary General of NATO * Anders Södergren (born 1977), Swedish cross-country skier * Anders Svensson (bandy) (born 1975), Swedish bandy player * Anders Svensson (canoeist) (born 1977), Swedish canoer * Anders Svensson (footballer, born 1976), Swedish footballer * Anders Svensson (footballer, born 1939) (1939–2007), Swedish footballer * Anders Sunesen (c. 1167–1228), Danish archbishop *

Anders Erikson Sparrman Anders Sparrman (27 February 1748, Tensta, Uppland – 9 August 1820) was a Swedish naturalist, abolitionist and an apostle of Carl Linnaeus. Biography left, Miniature of Sparrman at the time of his travels with James Cook. By unknown art ...

(1748–1820), Swedish naturalist and abolitionist * Anders Szalkai (born 1970), Swedish retired long-distance runner *

Anders Thunborg Anders Thunborg (1934–December 2004) was a Swedish social democratic politician and diplomat. He served as the defense minister between 1983 and 1985. He was also Swedish ambassador to the United Nations, Moscow, Washington and the Vatican Cit ...

(1934–2004), Swedish politician and diplomat *

Anders Wijkman Anders Ivar Sven Wijkman (born 30 September 1944 in Stockholm) is a Swedish politician (Swedish: '' Kristdemokraterna'', KD) who was Member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2009. As member of the European Parliament, he focused on issu ...

(born 1944), Swedish politician *

Anders Zorn Anders Leonard Zorn (18 February 1860 – 22 August 1920) was a Swedish painter. He attained international success as a painter, sculptor, and etching artist. Among Zorn's portrait subjects include King Oscar II of Sweden and three American ...

(1860–1920), Swedish painter, sculptor and printmaker

Middle name

* Paul Anders Ogren (born 1951), American carpenter, farmer, and politician * David Anders Holt (born 1981), known professionally as David Anders, American television and stage actor

Surname

Allison Anders Allison Anders (born November 16, 1954) is an American independent film director whose films include ''Gas Food Lodging'', ''Mi Vida Loca'' and ''Grace of My Heart''. Anders has collaborated with fellow UCLA School of Theater, Film and Televisio ...

(born 1954), American film and television director *

Andrea Anders Andrea Anders (born May 10, 1975) is an American actress. She is best known for her work on television, notably through her main roles on five anticipated but short-lived sitcoms, ''Joey'', '' The Class'', ''Better Off Ted'', '' Mr. Sunshine'' and ...

(born 1975), American actress * Andy Anders (born 1956), Louisiana state representative * Benny Anders (born 1963), American basketball player * Christian Anders (born 1945), Austrian singer and composer * Ernst Anders (1845–1911), German painter *

Eryk Anders Eryk Ryan Anders (born April 21, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist and former American football linebacker. He competes in the Middleweight division of the UFC. He played college football at the University of Alabama. Early ...

(born 1987), American mixed martial artist * Frank L. Anders (1875–1966), U.S. Army soldier awarded the Medal of Honor *

Günther Anders Günther Anders (born Günther Siegmund Stern, 12 July 1902 – 17 December 1992) was a German-Austrian Jewish émigré, philosopher, essayist and journalist. Trained in the phenomenological tradition, he developed a philosophical anthropolo ...

(1902–1992), German thinker * Günther Anders (cinematographer) (1908–1977), German cinematographer *

Merry Anders Merry Anders (born Mary Helen Anderson; May 22, 1934 – October 28, 2012) was an American actress and model who appeared in a number of television programs and films from the 1950s until her retirement from the screen in 1972. Early life Ander ...

(1932–2012), American actress * Peter Anders (tenor) (1908–1954), German operatic tenor * Rob Anders (born 1972), Canadian politician *

Thomas Anders Bernd Weidung (born 1 March 1963), known by his stage name Thomas Anders, is a German singer, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the pop duo Modern Talking. Starting his singing career while still in school ...

(born 1963), stage name of German singer Bernd Weidung *

William Anders William Alison Anders (born 17 October 1933) is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) major general, former electrical engineer, nuclear engineer, NASA astronaut, and businessman. In December 1968, he was a member of the crew of Apollo 8, t ...

(born 1933), Apollo 8 astronaut, former U.S. Air Force officer, and businessman *

Władysław Anders ) , birth_name = Władysław Albert Anders , birth_date = , birth_place = Krośniewice-Błonie, Warsaw Governorate, Congress Poland, Russian Empire , death_date = , death_place = London, England, United Kingdom , serviceyear ...

(1892–1970), Polish general and politician

Stage name

* Anders (singer), Canadian R&B singer and songwriter

Fictional characters

* Anders (Dragon Age), a character in the ''Dragon Age'' video game series * Andurs, a Nord priest of Arkay, and Anders (deceased bandit), characters in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, a game heavily influenced by Scandinavian culture * Captain Leslie Anders, supporting character in the 1968 movie ”Ice Station Zebra”, played by the actor Jim Brown. *

Joseph Anders Joseph Anders is a fictional character from the ABC television series ''Dynasty'', created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. Portrayed by Lee Bergere, the character is introduced in the series' 1981 pilot episode as the majordomo of Denver oil tyc ...

, a character in the U.S. TV series ''Dynasty'' and its reboot

References

{{given name, type=both Scandinavian masculine given names Danish masculine given names Norwegian masculine given names Swedish masculine given names Surnames from given names