What does Alessandro mean?
Alessandro is the Italian form of Alexander, “defender of the people.”
What does Andrea mean?
Andrea is the Italian form of Andrew, “manly” — and, unlike in English, a boys’ name in Italy.
Alessandro vs Andrea
Which is more popular?
Alessandro is more popular than Andrea today: about 608 US babies were given the name Alessandro in 2025, compared with 16 named Andrea.
| Alessandro | Andrea | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Defender of the people | Manly, brave |
| Origin | Italian | Italian |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | ah-les-SAHN-droh | ahn-DREH-ah |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1933 | 1912 |
| Peak year | 2025 (608) | 1976 (183) |
| In 2025 | 608 | 16 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Alessandro
Andrea
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Alessandro | Andrea |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 3,133 | 113 |
| 2010s | 3,910 | 185 |
| 2000s | 2,932 | 372 |
| 1990s | 1,081 | 643 |
| 1980s | 492 | 1,267 |
| 1970s | 273 | 1,547 |
| 1960s | 133 | 1,087 |
| 1950s | 38 | 415 |
| 1940s | 5 | 126 |
| 1930s | 5 | 93 |
| 1920s | 0 | 100 |
| 1910s | 0 | 81 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Alessandro or Andrea more popular?
Alessandro is more popular than Andrea today: about 608 US babies were given the name Alessandro in 2025, compared with 16 named Andrea.
What is the difference between Alessandro and Andrea?
Alessandro means Defender of the people (Italian origin), while Andrea means Manly, brave (Italian origin).
Which name is older, Alessandro or Andrea?
In US records, Alessandro first appears in 1933 and Andrea in 1912, so Andrea has the longer recorded history.