Agnes

♀ Girl

Pronounced AG-nes /ˈæɡ.nɛs/High

Meaning: Pure or chaste; from Greek hagnos (pure, holy, chaste), via Latin AgnesHigh

In 30 seconds: A Greek-Latin name meaning 'pure' or 'chaste,' borne by one of the most beloved early Christian martyrs. Agnes of Rome was executed around 304 CE at age 12–13, and her feast day (January 21) was the occasion for long folk traditions about love and marriage.

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Origin HighGreek, Latin

MeaningPure or chaste; from Greek hagnos (pure, holy, chaste), via Latin Agnes

U.S. rank (2025)#1016 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births246 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1918

Total births (all-time)≈ 159,516

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Agnes derives from the Greek hagnos (pure, holy, chaste), via Latin Agnes. Saint Agnes of Rome was martyred around 304 CE and became one of the most venerated saints of the early church. Her name's association with the Latin agnus (lamb) reinforced her innocence symbolism.

Agnes was a top-50 U.S. name in the early 20th century and declined sharply from the 1950s. It is now beginning a gentle vintage revival, ranking #1063 for girls in 2024 — part of the same wave as Edna, Mildred, and Bertha.

Did you know? On Saint Agnes's Eve (January 20), young women were said to see visions of their future husbands — a tradition immortalized in John Keats's 1819 poem The Eve of St. Agnes, one of the great Romantic poems in English.

Overall data confidence 93%

Behind the Name — Agnes — Greek/Latin etymology and saint historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

AgnessAgnese

Nicknames

AggieNessaAggy

Famous Bearers

★Saint Agnes of Rome (291–304)
Early Christian martyr, patron saint of girls and chastity. She was martyred at about 12–13 years old during the Diocletianic Persecution.

If you like Agnes…

Edna— early-20th-century girl name enjoying the same vintage revival

Mildred— grandma-chic name from the same era returning to fashion

Hazel— vintage botanical name that led the early revival movement

Dorothy— classic mid-century name on the same vintage arc

Eunice— Biblical/Greek name from the same generation of retro rediscoveries

Explore names like Agnes

By themelatin greek vintage saint christian pure retro-revival

By meaningGod / Divine Purity

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Agnes mean?

Agnes means 'pure' or 'chaste,' from Greek hagnos (holy, chaste). It also recalls the Latin agnus (lamb), reinforcing its purity symbolism.

How do you pronounce Agnes?

It's said AG-nes — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Agnes a boy or girl name?

Agnes is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Agnes?

Agnes ranked #1063 for U.S. girls in 2024.