Declining since 1985, #619 for girls today.
Popularity of Anne since 1880
Babies named Anne per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1959, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Anne's real moment was 1914.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 2,126 |
| 1890s | 4,231 |
| 1900s | 7,615 |
| 1910s | 33,478 |
| 1920s | 34,511 |
| 1930s | 28,621 |
| 1940s | 36,146 |
| 1950s | 52,404 |
| 1960s | 47,774 |
| 1970s | 25,602 |
| 1980s | 22,115 |
| 1990s | 14,472 |
| 2000s | 7,806 |
| 2010s | 5,291 |
| 2020s | 2,936 |
Meaning & origin
Anne has been a staple of English naming since the Middle Ages, invariably in the top 100 from the 1880s until the 1960s. Its peak year came in 1914, when it reached rank 24. Since 1985 its usage has been steadily falling, settling at rank 619 as of 2025, with a 1-in-3,405 incidence among newborn girls. The name has historically been most popular in Washington D.C., Alabama, and New Hampshire. Anne's persistent appeal lies in its quiet dignity and versatility, pairing equally well with formal or casual middle names. While no longer trending upward, it remains a familiar and respected choice, far from extinction.
Anne derives from the Hebrew name Hannah (Channah), meaning 'grace' or 'favor.' It appears in the Old Testament as the mother of the prophet Samuel. The name spread widely through Christianity due to the veneration of Saint Anne, traditionally the mother of the Virgin Mary. In English, the form Anne was adopted via French and has been in continuous use since the Middle Ages.
Where Anne 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.
“Anne” around the world
Where Anne lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
60
babies in 2024
Ireland
6
babies in 2025
Quebec
21
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Annie, Nan, Nanny, Nancy
Sibling names for Anne
Names that share Anne's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Mary, Elizabeth, Catherine, Margaret, Sarah, Bernadette, Beth, Jane, Jeanne, Jill, Katharine, Susanne, Teresa, Jannette, Margarette, Terese, Johanne, Lisabeth, Lise, Margarett, Marye, Marykate, Tereasa, Bronte, Catherin, Joane, Marykathryn, Reine, Cathe, Donne, Man, Margareth, Margaretmary, Marykatherine, Marymargaret, Maryrose, Teresea, Theresea, Thresea, Elizabth, Elizebath, Jennet, Therasa, Thersea
Brothers: John, James, Robert, William, David, Joe, Jon, Kent, Marc, Paul, Peter, Phillip, Richard, Stuart, Fran, Francois, Geoffrey, Michel, Pierre, Stewart, Christophe, Dann, Jeanpierre, Johnn, Mart, Anthonyjames, Philipe
Names like Anne
Names whose popularity has moved with Anne's over the last 50 years.
