The story behind Anne
From French Anne (“Ann”), from Late Latin Anna chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate in reference to Anna the Prophetess, from Koine Greek Ἄννα (Ánna) in the New Testament, from Hebrew חַנָּה (Ḥannâ, “Hannah”), from חַנָּה (ḥannâ, “grace, gracious, graced with child”). Occasionally reborrowed from languages who adopted the name from English. Very infrequently from Estonian abbreviation of Anna instead. Doublet of Ann, Ana, Anna, and Hannah. Compare John.
Other language forms and explanations (3)
English entry
A shortened form of any of various Germanic masculine names which began with arn (eagle), such as Arnold.
German entry
From Middle High German Anne, from Latin Anna. Possibly reinforced by French Anne.
Indonesian entry
Pronunciations with final schwa are reinforced by Dutch Anne. Ultimately from French Anne.
Pronunciation
General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /æn/
Regional pronunciation variants
- General American, æ-raising: [eən]
- British, Northern-England, Scotland, Southern, Standard, Wales: /an/
- Australia: /æːn/
- æ-raising: /eːn/
- New-Zealand: /ɛn/
- German: /ˈanə/
- German: [ˈʔa.nə]
- Indonesian: /ˈanə/
- Indonesian: /ˈenə/
- Indonesian: /ˈɛn/
Popularity
Anne ranked #619 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Anne
Aimee
Borrowed from French Aimée (“beloved”). A variation of the English Amy.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aimée
Unadapted borrowing from French Aimée (“beloved”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Alcée
From Latin Alcaeus, from Ancient Greek Ἀλκαῖος (Alkaîos).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Amie
A female given name from Latin, a less common spelling of Amy.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
André
Ultimately from Latin Andreās, from Ancient Greek Ἀνδρέας (Andréas). An Old Galician-Portuguese form Andreu was displaced. Doublet of Andrei. Borrowed from French André.…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends É
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ane
From English Anne and French Anne. Doublet of Ana and Hanna.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Anne
Ada
Short form of Germanic names beginning with adal (“noble”), such as Adelaide. Also Latinized form of Hebrew Adah. The programming language takes its name from Ada Lovelace. a…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Amy
Anglicized form of Old French Amee (modern French Aimée), which was both a nickname and a form of the Latin name Amata (“beloved”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Ava
A female given name from Hebrew, a variant of Eva.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Anne
Bo
Either borrowed from modern Danish Bo or Swedish Bo, or a spelling variant of the male given name Beau. From Old Norse Búi (“dweller, long-time resident”), originally a…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends O
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Carl
From Germanic, cognate with English Charles. * From German and other north European Carl and Karl. * From Latin Carolus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends L
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Cato
From Latin Cato. A cognomen made particularly famous by Cato the Elder and Younger, members of the gens Porcia.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection