Andor is related to Andrew and ultimately comes from Greek roots meaning manly or brave.
Andor carries two distinct but equally venerable lineages. In Scandinavian etymology, it is a compressed form of Arnþórr, an Old Norse compound of arn (eagle) and Þórr (Thor, the thunder god) — a name that places its bearer under the protection of two of the Norse world's most powerful symbols. In Hungarian, however, Andor functions as a native form of Andrew, itself derived from the Greek Andreas and the root anēr meaning man in the fullest sense of human strength and virtue.
The name thus sits at a crossroads of northern European cultures, equally at home in a saga and in a Central European village. Historically, the name has been borne by Hungarian intellectuals and artists, lending it an association with creative and philosophical seriousness in that tradition. In Scandinavia, its archaic sound placed it among names that evoke the Viking age without ever becoming clichéd.
Andor experienced a striking cultural revival in the early 2020s with the acclaimed Star Wars television series Andor, whose morally complex protagonist Cassian Andor introduced the name to a global audience. The show's serious, politically charged tone gave the name an additional layer of meaning — a name for someone who stands at the edge of history and chooses a side. Parents today are drawn to Andor for precisely this combination: ancient roots, cross-cultural range, and a contemporary resonance that feels earned rather than manufactured.