Ann

♀ Girl

Pronounced AN /æn/High

Meaning: Grace, favor; English form of Anne/Anna, from Latin Anna, from Hebrew Hannah (grace, favor)High

In 30 seconds: The simple, one-syllable English form of Hannah meaning 'grace' or 'favor.' One of the most enduring names in the English language, used steadily since biblical times, associated with countless queens and saints.

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Origin HighHebrew, English

MeaningGrace, favor; English form of Anne/Anna, from Latin Anna, from Hebrew Hannah (grace, favor)

U.S. rank (2025)#1076 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births225 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1957

Total births (all-time)≈ 470,258

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

Ann is the simplified English form of Anne, from Latin Anna, from Hebrew Hannah (grace, favor). Saint Anne, the traditional mother of the Virgin Mary, gave the name Christian importance. It was borne by queens of England, France, and Austria.

Ann was in the U.S. top 20 for most of the 20th century, peaking in the 1940s–1950s. It has declined significantly but remains a classic middle name. Ranked #1141 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Ann/Anne is traditionally the name of the Virgin Mary's mother (Saint Anne), making it one of the most theologically significant names in Catholic tradition — and one reason it has ranked on naming charts continuously for over 1,000 years.

Overall data confidence 96%

Behind the Name — Ann — Hebrew/Latin etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

AnneAnnaHannah

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Saint Anne (biblical)
Traditional mother of the Virgin Mary in Christian apocryphal tradition, patron saint of mothers, grandmothers, and teachers. Venerated in Catholic and Orthodox churches.
★Anne Frank (1929–1945)
German-born Jewish diarist whose account of hiding from the Nazis during WWII has been read by millions worldwide.

If you like Ann…

Anne— the standard single-e spelling of the same name

Anna— the fully spelled Latin/Slavic form

Hannah— the full Hebrew original from which Ann derives

Grace— one-syllable virtue name with the same timeless simplicity

Mae— one-syllable vintage name with the same quiet classic beauty

Explore names like Ann

By themeenglish hebrew classic one-syllable saint timeless

By meaningGrace

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ann mean?

Ann means 'grace' or 'favor,' the simple English form of Hebrew Hannah via Latin Anna.

How do you pronounce Ann?

It's said AN — one syllable, rhyming with 'can.'

Is Ann a boy or girl name?

Ann is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Ann?

Ann ranked #1141 for U.S. girls in 2024, far below its mid-century top-20 peak.