Declining since 2002, #10,107 for girls today.
Popularity of Anise since 1893
Babies named Anise per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1992, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Anise's real moment was 1901.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 14 |
| 1910s | 56 |
| 1920s | 94 |
| 1930s | 75 |
| 1940s | 67 |
| 1950s | 119 |
| 1960s | 77 |
| 1970s | 111 |
| 1980s | 108 |
| 1990s | 152 |
| 2000s | 191 |
| 2010s | 131 |
| 2020s | 42 |
Meaning & origin
Anise is a botanical name that has been used sporadically since the late 19th century, first recorded in 1893. It reached its peak rank of 10,107 in 1901, though this ranking reflects a very small number of births. In 2025, the name had a frequency of 1 in 178,585 newborns. Its trajectory has been falling since 2002, indicating a decline in usage over the past two decades. The name has not been associated with any specific U.S. state or cultural trend, remaining a rare but recognizable floral-herbal choice.
Anise is taken directly from the name of the herb Pimpinella anisum, which entered English from Old French 'anis' via Latin from Greek 'anison'. The plant has been cultivated since ancient times, and the name has been used as a given name since the late 19th century, likely influenced by the rise of botanical names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ani, Nise
Variants: Aniseh
Sibling names for Anise
Names that share Anise's style, for a brother or sister.
