Andrea becomes popular for boys in France

A name ending in -a, which was given 2,935 times in 1995 and 2,123 times in 2023, is causing a stir in French maternity wards. Once predominantly associated with girls, Andrea has become increasingly popular among young parents for boys.

Statistics highlight the name’s rise

New statistics from the INSEE's Name File, published online on July 16, 2026, confirm a trend that many young parents had already noticed in maternity wards. A short name ending in -a, long associated with girls, is now increasingly given to boys.

Origin and usage of Andrea

This rising name is Andrea, sometimes written as Andrée, which comes from the ancient Greek "andros," meaning "man," "masculine," or "courageous." In Italy, Andrea has long been a common male name, while in France it initially circulated as a female name before becoming more masculine starting in the 1990s.

Tracking the name’s popularity over time

This name was rarely given in the 1970s, before a first peak in 1995 with 2,935 births, then maintained at a high level with 2,123 births recorded in 2023. These figures are sufficient to place Andrea in the Top 50 of male names, whereas it remained limited to the Top 200 a few years earlier.

Official data show shifting trends

The INSEE's Name File, fed by the RNIPP, records births from 1900 to 2025 and was updated on July 16, 2026, with numbers rounded to multiples of five to protect privacy. According to this official database, the male share of Andrea increases significantly from the 1990s and now largely surpasses the female assignments, especially for babies born since 2010.

Trend of names starting with A

This progression follows the trend of names starting with A, which are highly sought after.