The nameAgnes
Agnes is the name of a young Roman martyr. It was a top 40 American name around 1900 and is back in fashion in England.
- Girl's name
- Greek
- Feast day
Meaning
Agnes comes from the Greek hagne, "pure, holy". It was later linked to the Latin agnus, "lamb".
Origin
Greek.
History
Saint Agnes of Rome died a martyr around 304. In the United States Agnes reached 37th in 1899. In England and Wales it reached 334th in 2015.
Did you know?
- The director Agnès Varda received an honorary Oscar in 2017.
Famous people named Agnes
- Saint Agnes of Rome
- Agnes Obel, singer
- Agnes de Mille, choreographer
Popularity of the name Agnes
Agnes in the United States
Agnes was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 39,362 births over the decade, 25% of all recorded babies named Agnes. Half of all babies named Agnes in the United States were born before 1920, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 217 births a year.
Agnes in the United Kingdom
Agnes was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 1,003 births over the decade, 52% of all recorded babies named Agnes. Half of all babies named Agnes in the United Kingdom were born before 2016, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 92 births a year on average, against 121 in the five years before.
Agnes in Ireland
Agnes in France
Agnes in Austria
Agnes in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Agnes
Names from the same generation as Agnes, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Agnes? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Agnes with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Agnes side by side with the name of your choice.
Agnes in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Agnes mean?
Agnes comes from the Greek hagne, "pure, holy". It was later linked to the Latin agnus, "lamb".
What is the origin of the name Agnes?
Greek.
Is Agnes a girl's or a boy's name?
Agnes is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Agnes?
In 2024, Agnes was the 1066th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 233 births.
What are the variants of the name Agnes?
Variants and related names of Agnes include Ines, Iness, Nesta and Ynes.
What are good sibling names for Agnes?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Margaux, Althea, Naya and Elina for a sister, Alistair, Bastian, Imran and Yuri for a brother.
Who are famous people named Agnes?
Saint Agnes of Rome; Agnes Obel, singer; Agnes de Mille, choreographer.