A feminine form of Andrew, from Greek andreia meaning "courage" or "manly strength."
Andreia is the feminine form of Andreas and Andrew, rooted in the ancient Greek word 'andreios,' meaning 'manly,' 'brave,' or 'courageous.' The underlying noun 'anēr' (man) gave rise to both the personal name and the philosophical concept: in classical Greek ethics, 'andreia' was the virtue of courage itself, analyzed at length by Aristotle in the Nicomachean Ethics as the mean between cowardice and recklessness. To bear this name is therefore to carry not just a personal designation but an ethical aspiration — the embodiment of balanced bravery.
The name Andrew spread throughout the Christian world through the apostle Saint Andrew, the first-called disciple of Jesus who became patron saint of Scotland, Russia, and Greece, among others. Its feminine form Andreia has flourished particularly in Portuguese-speaking cultures — Brazil and Portugal — as well as in modern Greece, where its classical resonance remains vivid. In these traditions, the name feels simultaneously ancient and modern, rooted in philosophy and elevated by sanctity.
In contemporary usage, Andreia carries a sophisticated, cross-cultural elegance. It is recognizable enough to feel accessible to English speakers while retaining an unmistakably Latin and Mediterranean character. The name has never been common enough in anglophone countries to feel overused, giving it a distinctive quality that suits children of Portuguese or Greek heritage as well as parents simply drawn to a name that sounds beautiful and means something profound. The virtue it names — courage, in its wisest form — gives Andreia a meaning that grows only more resonant with time.