Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Nancy
GirlEnglish, Hebrew· “grace; pet form of Anne”
- Meaning
- grace; pet form of Anne
- Origin
- English, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- NAN-see
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #967
- US babies 2025
- 265
- Best rank
- #6 (1950)
- Peak year
- 1947
Meaning and origin of Nancy
Nancy is an English and Hebrew name that means “grace; pet form of Anne”.
Nancy began as a medieval pet form of Annis, an English form of Agnes, and later became associated with Anne, which comes from the Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or favor. By the eighteenth century it was used as an independent name. It became one of the most familiar American names of the twentieth century, borne by first lady Nancy Reagan. Charles Dickens included a Nancy in Oliver Twist. Today it has a friendly, vintage feel ready for revival. Nan is a nickname.
Popularity over time
Nancy 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 #6 in 1950, and the most babies received it in 1947, when 32,445 were named Nancy. In 2025, 265 babies were named Nancy, and it ranked #967 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #95 in 1920, #6 in 1950, #111 in 1980, #232 in 2000, #519 in 2010, and #967 in 2025. Of the 1,004,448 US girls named Nancy since records began, 29% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 252,061 babies. Since 2010, 5,605 more have been named Nancy.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Carol, Sandra, Sharon, Judy, and Carolyn.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Nancy ranked highest in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and South Carolina.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | #461 | 23 |
| Wisconsin | #477 | 11 |
| South Carolina | #667 | 7 |
| Alabama | #695 | 7 |
| New York | #696 | 24 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Nancy is usually pronounced NAN-see, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with N and ends in “-cy”.
Middle names for Nancy
A few middle names that flow with Nancy: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Nancy
Similar names
Mary Girl
MEH-ree
“uncertain; often said bitter or beloved” · Hebrew
#125
Annie Girl
A-nee
“grace, favor” · English
#182
Macy Girl
MAY-see
“from a French place name” · English
#720
Joey Unisex
JOH-ee
“he will add; short for Joseph” · English
#877
Darcy Girl
DAR-see
“from Arcy, a French place” · English
#857
Ruthie Girl
ROO-thee
“pet form of Ruth; possibly friend” · English
#781
Lucy Girl
LOO-see
“light” · English
#25
Abby Girl
A-bee
“my father is joy” · Hebrew
#731
Evie Girl
EH-vee
“life; pet form of Eve or Evelyn” · English
#270
Susan Girl
SOO-zuhn
“lily” · English
#1,091
Dani Girl
DA-nee
“God is my judge” · Hebrew
#747
Sally Girl
SA-lee
“princess” · English
#1,158
Lists that include Nancy
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nancy mean?
Nancy is an English and Hebrew name that means “grace; pet form of Anne”.
What is the origin of the name Nancy?
Nancy has English and Hebrew roots. Nancy began as a medieval pet form of Annis, an English form of Agnes, and later became associated with Anne, which comes from the Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or favor.
Is Nancy a popular name?
Yes. Nancy ranked #967 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Nancy a boy or girl name?
Nancy is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Nancy?
Nancy is usually pronounced NAN-see. 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