Declining since 2021, #3,342 for girls today.
Popularity of Fannie since 1880
Babies named Fannie per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Fannie's real moment was 1883.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 7,527 |
| 1890s | 9,898 |
| 1900s | 10,346 |
| 1910s | 16,633 |
| 1920s | 16,456 |
| 1930s | 9,552 |
| 1940s | 6,471 |
| 1950s | 3,670 |
| 1960s | 1,551 |
| 1970s | 869 |
| 1980s | 635 |
| 1990s | 584 |
| 2000s | 559 |
| 2010s | 496 |
| 2020s | 333 |
Meaning & origin
Fannie is a classic diminutive that enjoyed its peak popularity in 1883, when it ranked among the top names for girls. Over time, its usage has steadily declined, and its trajectory has been falling since 2021. In 2025, it was given to about 1 in 34,941 girls, placing it at rank 3,342. The name was most common in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and New York during its peak era. While no longer fashionable, Fannie retains a vintage charm for parents drawn to turn-of-the-century names.
Fannie originated as a diminutive of Frances, the feminine form of Francis, which derives from the Latin Franciscus meaning 'Frenchman' or 'free one'. Historically a common nickname in English-speaking countries, Fannie was widely used as an independent given name from the 19th century into the early 20th century. Its popularity peaked in the United States in the 1880s.
Where Fannie 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.
“Fannie” around the world
Where Fannie lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Fan, Fay
Variants: Fanny
Sibling names for Fannie
Names that share Fannie's style, for a brother or sister.
