The nameNancy
Nancy is a girl's name of Hebrew origin, a pet form of Anne meaning "grace". It was a top 10 name in the United States in the 1930s to 1950s.
- Girl's name
- English
Meaning
Nancy began as a pet form of Annis, a medieval form of Agnes, and then of Anne, from the Hebrew Channah, "grace".
Origin
English. Nancy became a name in its own right in the 18th century.
History
Nancy entered the American top 10 in 1934 and reached sixth place. Nancy Drew, the girl detective, and Nancy Reagan are famous bearers.
Did you know?
- The Nancy Drew books, from 1930, were written by several ghostwriters under the single pen name Carolyn Keene.
- Nancy Pelosi became the first woman Speaker of the United States House of Representatives in 2007.
Famous people named Nancy
- Nancy Reagan, First Lady
- Nancy Pelosi, politician
- Nancy Drew, fictional detective
- Nancy Mitford, writer
Popularity of the name Nancy
Nancy in the United States
Nancy was most popular in the United States in the 1950s, with 287,352 births over the decade, 29% of all recorded babies named Nancy. Its rise began around 1921, and it peaked in 1947. Half of all babies named Nancy in the United States were born before 1951, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 282 births a year.
Nancy in the United Kingdom
Nancy was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 6,700 births over the decade, 50% of all recorded babies named Nancy. Half of all babies named Nancy in the United Kingdom were born before 2017, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 712 births a year on average, against 847 in the five years before.
Nancy in Ireland
Nancy in France
Nancy in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Nancy
Names from the same generation as Nancy, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Nancy? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Nancy with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Nancy side by side with the name of your choice.
Nancy in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nancy mean?
Nancy began as a pet form of Annis, a medieval form of Agnes, and then of Anne, from the Hebrew Channah, "grace".
What is the origin of the name Nancy?
English. Nancy became a name in its own right in the 18th century.
Is Nancy a girl's or a boy's name?
Nancy is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Nancy?
In 2024, Nancy was the 919th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 288 births.
What are the variants of the name Nancy?
Variants and related names of Nancy include Anne.
What are good sibling names for Nancy?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Wendy, Cynthia, Sandra and Claudia for a sister, Gary, Bobby, Tommy and Dustin for a brother.
Who are famous people named Nancy?
Nancy Reagan, First Lady; Nancy Pelosi, politician; Nancy Drew, fictional detective; Nancy Mitford, writer.