Andy

Andy is a diminutive of Andrew, from the Greek Andreas derived from aner meaning "man" — specifically a brave, strong man. It has a classic American friendliness that transcends generations: Andy Warhol, Andy Griffith, Toy Story's Andy. The name is the opposite of pretentious — it's open, approachable, and reliably good company. For pets, Andy is the name of the companion who is simply a great friend: dependable, enthusiastic, and entirely without artifice.

Andy checks in at #272 on the pet name charts and has a straightforward, can-do warmth that is genuinely hard to beat. Its Greek roots meaning "brave man" are hidden beneath a thoroughly accessible exterior, and that combination — solid meaning, friendly face — is precisely what makes Andy endure. It's the name for a companion who is everybody's friend: the one who makes new friends at the park within seconds, who greets visitors with equal enthusiasm as family, and who is simply, steadily, wonderfully good. Andy is a companion you can count on.