Andrei is a masculine given name widely used in Belarusian, Bulgarian, Romanian, and Russian. It is the Romanian form of Andrew, as well as an alternate transcription of Russian/Bulgarian Андрей (Andrey) or Belarusian Андрэй (Andrey). The name ultimately derives from the Greek Ἀνδρέας (Andreas), meaning "manly" or "masculine," from ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man." Etymology and History The name Andrew appears in the New Testament as the first disciple called by Jesus, the brother of Simon Peter. According to tradition, Andrew preached in the Black Sea region and was martyred on an X-shaped cross, which later became the symbol of Saint Andrew. The name spread throughout the Christian world, especially in Eastern Europe and Russia, where Saint Andrew is considered the patron saint of Russia, Greece, and Romania. In Slavic languages and Romanian, the name evolved into forms like Andrei, Andrey, and Andrej. Notable Bearers Many notable individuals bear the name Andrei. In politics and diplomacy, Andrei Gromyko (1909–1989) was a prominent Soviet statesman who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. Andrei Karlov (1954–2016) was a Russian diplomat assassinated in Ankara. In sports, Andrei Kirilenko (born 1981) is a Russian former NBA basketball player, and Andrei Kanchelskis (born 1959) is a retired Russian footballer. In science and technology, Andrei Broder (born 1953) is a Romanian-Israeli American computer scientist known for his work in information retrieval. The name is also associated with Andrei Chikatilo (1936–1994), a notorious Russian serial killer. Cultural Significance Andrei is a common name in Eastern Europe, reflecting the deep Christian heritage of the region. In Romania, it is one of the most popular male names, often given in honor of Saint Andrew (Sfântul Andrei), the country's patron saint. The name also appears in various forms across other languages, such as Andre in English, Andreas in Welsh, and Andreu in Catalan. Feminine forms include Andra, Andrada, Andrea, Andreea in Romanian, and Andriana in Bulgarian. Meaning: "manly, masculine" Origin: Greek, via Andrew Type: Given name Usage regions: Belarusian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Russian