Anne Overview
- Meaning: The name Anne means “grace,” “merciful,” and “favored by God.” These meanings stem from the name’s Hebrew roots, particularly the name Channah.
- Gender: The name Anne is traditionally feminine.
- Origin: Anne is a permutation of the Roman name Anna, a transmuted version of the Hebrew name Channah (also spelled Hannah).
- Pronunciation: Anne is pronounced “AN” or “ah-N.”
- Popularity: Anne is pretty popular in the United States but far more popular in Germany. It’s very popular in the Netherlands, but it might be most popular in Estonia.
- Nicknames: Anna, Annabelle, Annie, Nan
- Variations: An, Ane, Ann, Anna, Анна, Channah, Hanna, Hannah, Hanne
- Namesakes: Anne Hathaway, actor. Anne Rice, author.
What Does Anne Mean?
The name Anne means “grace,” though it can also mean “merciful” or “favored by God.” This meaning stems from the original Hebrew version of the name, Channah (חַנָּה), which is also spelled as Hannah or Hanna (1).
What Is the Origin of the Name Anne?
The name Anne stems from the name Anna. This is a shortened form of the Hebrew word for “grace”. This word is spelled Channah or Hannah when using the English alphabet.
It’s also worth noting that the Romanized version of the Hebrew is very similar to the Roman word for “year,” so some associate the name Anna or Anne with the meaning “per year.”
Ann (a variation of the name Anne) is particularly treasured within Christianity, as it was the given name of the Virgin Mary’s mother (2).
How Popular Is the Name Anne?
Anne is a popular middle name, but it’s less commonly used as a given first name. However, during the later 1800s, this name was within the top 500 girls’ names throughout the United States and Europe (mainly France and England).
It remained in the top 200 girls’ names in the United States until 1993. Since that time, it has seen a steady decrease in usage. Currently, the name Anne remains fairly popular, often placing within the top 500 or 700 names in the United States.
This first name is most popular in Germany (within the top 300), the Netherlands (within the top 100), and Estonia (within the top 20).
How Do I Pronounce Anne?
Anne is pronounced as “AN” throughout most of the United States.
However, it can be pronounced “ah-N” (which sounds like the word “on”) in some English-speaking countries, including England and Wales.
The final letter of this name (the letter e) is typically not pronounced.
Is Anne a Boy or Girl Name?
Anne is traditionally a feminine name. However, a small percentage of boys are given this name (approximately 0.3% of all people named Anne).
Variations of Anne
There are only a handful of variations of the name Anne. Some of the most common include:
- An (Dutch)
- Ane (Danish)
- Ann (English, French)
- Anna (English, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Korean, Latin, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Spanish)
- Анна (Russian)
- Channah (Hebrew)
- Hanna (Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, German, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, Ukrainian)
- Hannah (English, Hebrew, Swedish)
- Hanne (German)
Nicknames for Anne
Anne is quite a short name, and most nicknames arise as a means of shortening multi-syllable names. Consequently, there are only a few nicknames for Anne, which include:
- Anna
- Annabelle
- Annie
- Nan
Similar Names to Anne
If you like the name Anne but would like to explore other similar names, you may want to consider the following feminine first names:
Middle Names for Anne
If you’re searching for a middle name to accompany the first name Anne, any of the below options could be an ideal fit:
Sibling Names for Anne
Whether you’re searching for feminine or masculine names that complement the first name Anne, there are plenty of options from which to choose. Some of the most popular sibling names for Anne include:
- Asher
- Christopher
- Delilah
- Dylan
- Elijah
- Evan
- Giovanni
- Isabella
- Jack
- James
- Johanna
- John
- Juan
- Mary
- Michael
- Sean
- Shane
Famous People Named Anne
Dozens of famous individuals named Anne have helped make this name popular throughout the centuries. Some of the most notable include:
- Anne Archer: American actress.
- Anne Boleyn: Queen of England and second wife of King Henry VIII (more commonly known as Henry the Eighth).
- Anne Frank: Jewish diarist and victim of the Holocaust (full name Annelies Marie Frank).
- Anne Hathaway: American actress.
- Anne Rice: American author.
- Princess Anne: Member of the British Monarchy; daughter of Queen Elizabeth II.
- Queen Anne of England: English queen responsible for uniting England and Scotland into a single nation (Great Britain).
- Saint Anne: Biblical figure and mother of the Virgin Mary.
Anne in Popular Culture
A handful of characters named Anne have made a measurable impact on popular culture. For example:
- Ann Darrow: Character from the 1933 and 2005 King Kong films.
- Anne Elliot: Character in the 1817 Jane Austen novel, Persuasion.
- Ann Perkins: Character in the television show Parks and Recreation; portrayed by Rashida Jones.
- Anne Shirley: The main protagonist of the novel Anne of Green Gables.
Anne FAQs
Below you’ll find some of the most frequently asked questions about the first name Anne.
What Does Anne Mean in the Bible?
Anne (sometimes spelled Ann) is the first name of the Virgin Mary’s mother in the Bible. In Catholicism, this individual is identified as Saint Anne (3).
Is Anne an Irish Name?
Anne is not an Irish name, though it’s often used as a middle name for girls born in Ireland. The original Hebrew version of this name (Hannah) is a far more popular first name in Ireland, currently falling within the top 30 feminine names.
What Is the Personality of the Name Anne?
The name Anne is often associated with righteousness and grace. As such, traits associated with this name include patience, kindness, and spirituality.
Is Anne or Ann More Common?
The name Anne is slightly more common than Ann, especially as a first name.
