Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Anne
GirlFrench, Hebrew· “grace, favor”
- Meaning
- grace, favor
- Origin
- French, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- AN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #619
- US babies 2025
- 472
- Best rank
- #52 (1915)
- Peak year
- 1959
Meaning and origin of Anne
Anne is a French and Hebrew name that means “grace, favor”.
Anne is the French form of Anna, which comes from the Hebrew Hannah, "grace" or "favor". Christian tradition names Saint Anne as the mother of the Virgin Mary, and devotion to her made the name common across medieval Europe. In England it belonged to Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII, and to Queen Anne, the last Stuart monarch. Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908, gave it an unforgettable literary heroine who insisted on the spelling with an e. The diarist Anne Frank is another beloved bearer. The name is simple, classic and elegant. Annie is the usual nickname.
Other spellings with the same sound: Ann, An.
Famous parents who chose Anne: Mindy Kaling (2024). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Anne 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 146 different years. Its best national rank was #52 in 1915, and the most babies received it in 1959, when 5,745 were named Anne. In 2025, 472 babies were named Anne, and it ranked #619 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #65 in 1920, #84 in 1950, #112 in 1980, #298 in 2000, #609 in 2010, and #619 in 2025. Of the 325,128 US girls named Anne since records began, 16% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 47,774 babies. Since 2010, 8,227 more have been named Anne.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Becky, Annette, Valerie, Pam, and Sandy.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Anne ranked highest in District of Columbia, Alabama, and New Hampshire.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | #76 | 9 |
| Alabama | #135 | 33 |
| New Hampshire | #207 | 6 |
| Mississippi | #246 | 11 |
| South Carolina | #348 | 14 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Anne is usually pronounced AN, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with A and ends in “-ne”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Ann and An.
Middle names for Anne
A few middle names that flow with Anne: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Anne
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Lists that include Anne
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Anne mean?
Anne is a French and Hebrew name that means “grace, favor”.
What is the origin of the name Anne?
Anne has French and Hebrew roots. Anne is the French form of Anna, which comes from the Hebrew Hannah, "grace" or "favor".
Is Anne a popular name?
Yes. Anne ranked #619 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Anne a boy or girl name?
Anne is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Anne?
Anne 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