A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Agnes since 1880
Babies named Agnes per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Agnes's real moment was 1896.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 7,237 |
| 1890s | 14,429 |
| 1900s | 17,616 |
| 1910s | 39,255 |
| 1920s | 39,222 |
| 1930s | 18,032 |
| 1940s | 9,518 |
| 1950s | 5,602 |
| 1960s | 2,714 |
| 1970s | 913 |
| 1980s | 744 |
| 1990s | 626 |
| 2000s | 635 |
| 2010s | 1,638 |
| 2020s | 1,336 |
Meaning & origin
Agnes is a classic name with ancient Greek roots, meaning 'chaste' or 'holy.' It was borne by the early Christian martyr Saint Agnes, symbolizing purity and devotion. The name enjoyed immense popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reaching its peak rank of 1 in 1896. After a long decline, Agnes began a revival in 2003 and has been steadily rising since. In 2025, it ranked 1016, with approximately 1 in 6534 girls named Agnes. The name is most common in the Plains states, including Kansas, Nebraska, and Oregon. Its revival reflects a broader trend toward vintage names with a gentle, old-fashioned charm.
Agnes derives from the Greek name Hagnē, meaning 'chaste' or 'holy.' It was Latinized as Agnes and became associated with the Latin word agnus ('lamb'), leading to early Christian iconography of Saint Agnes with a lamb. The name was popular throughout medieval Europe and revived in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Where Agnes is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Agnes” around the world
Where Agnes lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
75
babies in 2024
Quebec
15
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Aggie, Ness, Nessa
Sibling names for Agnes
Names that share Agnes's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Beatrice, Cecilia, Edith, Florence, Margaret, Bertha, Gertrude, Mildred, Berta, Ernestine, Sybil, Ethyl, Sibyl, Berdine, Etheleen, Robina, Edithe, Emelda, Ethelyne, Gertude, Girtrude, Edwyna, Ethell, Milderd
Brothers: Albert, Arthur, Edmund, Henry, Walter, Harold, Herbert, Hubert, Archibald, Bertram, Cornelius, Earle, Gean, Irwin, Ignatius, Isidore, Oswald, Barnard, Humphrey, Loretto, Pius, Talbert, Athel, Gifford, Hartwell, Heywood, Ellard, Aldwin, Ethelbert, Pelham, Proctor, Sebert, Thedford
