What is the name of Andy Taylor's young son?

Andy Taylor’s young son on The Andy Griffith Show is Opie Taylor.

Opie is Andy’s only child and lives with his widowed father in Mayberry. He is introduced as an energetic, curious boy whose everyday adventures give the series many of its warmest stories. Andy frequently uses Opie’s mistakes, friendships, and moral dilemmas to teach lessons about honesty, responsibility, compassion, and growing up.

The character was played by Ron Howard, who was credited as Ronny Howard during much of the show’s original run. Howard was a child actor when the series began and later became a successful film director, directing movies such as Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind. His early role as Opie made him familiar to generations of television viewers.

Opie’s mother had died before the sitcom begins, and the show’s backstory says she passed away when he was very young. Aunt Bee serves as the Taylor household’s housekeeper and maternal presence, while Andy remains Opie’s primary parent. The other options are Mayberry figures: Gomer Pyle is a mechanic, Otis Campbell is the town drunk, and Barney Fife is Andy’s deputy. None is Andy’s son.