Anne

♀ Girl

Pronounced AN /æn/High

Meaning: French form of Anna, from Hebrew Channah meaning 'grace,' 'favor,' or 'God has favored me'; the -ne spelling is the French variant that spread through England after the Norman ConquestHigh

In 30 seconds: Anne means 'grace' — the French form of Hannah, borne by mothers of the Virgin Mary and Mary Queen of Scots. A one-syllable classic of ineffable restraint and enduring dignity.

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Origin HighHebrew, French

MeaningFrench form of Anna, from Hebrew Channah meaning 'grace,' 'favor,' or 'God has favored me'; the -ne spelling is the French variant that spread through England after the Norman Conquest

U.S. rank (2025)#619 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births472 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1959

Total births (all-time)≈ 325,120

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Anne is the French form of Anna, from Hebrew Channah ('God has shown favor'). Saint Anne is traditionally the mother of the Virgin Mary in Christian tradition, giving the name enormous religious prestige. The French spelling entered England with the Normans and became a standard English royal name, borne by six British queens including Anne of Cleves and Queen Anne.

Anne was among the most common girls' names in England and France for centuries. In the United States it peaked in the early 20th century and remains in steady use as both a given name and a middle name. Its extraordinary literary, royal, and religious associations make it one of the most culturally loaded names in the English-speaking world.

Did you know? Anne of Green Gables — L.M. Montgomery's 1908 heroine who insists her name must be spelled with an 'e' — made this specific spelling culturally iconic, to the point where Anne-with-an-e is now a phrase people actually use in everyday conversation.

Overall data confidence 97%

Behind the Name — Anne — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

AnnAnnaHannah

Nicknames

AnnieNan

Famous Bearers

★Anne Frank (1929–1945)
German-born Jewish diarist whose diary became one of the most read books in history.
★Anne Boleyn (c. 1501–1536)
Queen of England, second wife of Henry VIII, mother of Queen Elizabeth I.

If you like Anne…

Anna— the Latin/Slavic spelling of the same Hebrew name with identical meaning

Grace— one-to-two syllable English virtue-name with the same understated, enduring elegance

Clara— short Latin feminine classic with the same crisp, ancient, timeless character

Jane— one-syllable Hebrew-origin classic with the same quiet royal dignity

Frequently Asked

What does the name Anne mean?

Anne is the French form of Hannah, from Hebrew Channah meaning 'grace' or 'God has shown favor.'

How do you pronounce Anne?

It is said AN — one syllable.

Is Anne a boy or girl name?

Anne is exclusively a girls' name.

How popular is Anne?

Anne has been one of the most given names in Western history and remains in steady use in the U.S. today, particularly as a middle name.