Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Ann
GirlEnglish, Hebrew· “grace, favor”
- Meaning
- grace, favor
- Origin
- English, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- AN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #1,076
- US babies 2025
- 225
- Best rank
- #28 (1936)
- Peak year
- 1957
Meaning and origin of Ann
Ann is an English and Hebrew name that means “grace, favor”.
Ann is an English form of Anna, which comes from the Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or favor. Hannah is the mother of the prophet Samuel in the Hebrew Bible, and Christian tradition names Saint Anne as the mother of the Virgin Mary. Queen Anne, who ruled Great Britain in the early eighteenth century, and many other royals carried the name in its Anne spelling. Ann was among the most common girls' names in the English-speaking world for centuries and is still a popular middle name. It is short, simple and timeless, and it combines easily with other names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Anne, An.
Popularity over time
Ann has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 139 different years. Its best national rank was #28 in 1936, and the most babies received it in 1957, when 9,040 were named Ann. In 2025, 225 babies were named Ann, and it ranked #1,076 nationally. That is 27% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #49 in 1920, #45 in 1950, #136 in 1980, #493 in 2000, #913 in 2010, and #1,076 in 2025. Of the 470,261 US girls named Ann since records began, 19% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 76,797 babies. Since 2010, 4,079 more have been named Ann.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Diana, Darlene, Peggy, Lynn, and Wanda.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Ann ranked highest in Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | #164 | 15 |
| Alabama | #177 | 25 |
| South Carolina | #523 | 9 |
| Tennessee | #535 | 14 |
| Virginia | #575 | 13 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Ann is usually pronounced AN, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with A and ends in “-nn”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Anne and An.
Middle names for Ann
A few middle names that flow with Ann: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Ann
Similar names
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Lists that include Ann
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ann mean?
Ann is an English and Hebrew name that means “grace, favor”.
What is the origin of the name Ann?
Ann has English and Hebrew roots. Ann is an English form of Anna, which comes from the Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or favor.
Is Ann a popular name?
Not especially. Ann ranked #1,076 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Ann a boy or girl name?
Ann is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Ann?
Ann is usually pronounced AN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings