Here's a little riddle for you.

Three men named Andrew arrange to meet in a bar. They were all born in the same decade - which one?
For the answer, highlight the space below.
The 1970s

I thought about this last week whilst with two old friends who happen to share my name. We met at university and I hadn't seen one of them for 12 years; I once went on holiday with the other and stayed at his parents' house but despite being erstwhile housemates our paths hadn't crossed for three years. It was good to meet up but it brought back an old dilemma about naming. The erstwhile housemate was resolutely Andrew (perhaps because he'd been to public school) and I'd always been Andrew but because I didn't mind Andy, that's what I became at uni to differentiate between us in the house. Then I met my wife who had a brother called Andy and either although or because they weren't close she preferred to call me Andrew again. My nameplate at work says Andy because it fitted better (I was told) but everyone calls me Andrew (to my face). The third friend of the recent reunion, incidentally, was and still is Andy.

It seems future generations will not be faced with the dilemma. In 2007, Andrew was the 99th most popular boys' name for babies born in England and Wales - down from a heady 74th in 2003. Considering Tyler, Jayden and Oscar made the top 40, I'm frankly insulted. Then there are Logan, Mason and Riley in the 50s, Kian, Ellis, Harley, Bailey, Luca and Ashton between 68 and 76, and Morgan, Corey, Taylor and even Louie, all above my noble name. As for Kai (62) and Jay (96), they aren't names, they're letters.

Incidentally, I know there are Andrews out there who weren't born in the 1970s. It's just that there aren't enough that they would be friends with each other. As if to prove my point, in 1974 Andrew was the fourth most popular name for baby boys. It's the only year ending in 4 in which Andrew has made the top five.