Nan
Nan is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Grace or favor.
Origin and history
Nan originated as a medieval English diminutive of Anne or Nancy, deriving from the Hebrew name Hannah. It was a moderately common given name in the United States throughout the mid-20th century. Today, it is rarely given as an official full name, often retained as an affectionate family nickname.
Popularity in the United States
10,274 babies in the United States have been named Nan since 1880. It ranks #1610 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2095.
States where it is most popular
- NY (12.7 %)
- TX (11.4 %)
- PA (11.4 %)
- CA (6.8 %)
- GA (6.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 322 |
| 1890-1900 | 405 |
| 1900-1910 | 457 |
| 1910-1920 | 825 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,198 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,467 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,099 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,181 |
| 1960-1970 | 877 |
| 1970-1980 | 223 |
| 1980-1990 | 121 |
| 1990-2000 | 62 |
| 2000-2010 | 24 |
| 2010-2019 | 7 |
| 2020-2029 | 6 |
Famous people named Nan
- Nan Goldin: Photographer, Artist
- Nan Britton: Author
Fun facts
- Nan arose in Middle English from 'mine Anne', where the 'n' from 'mine' rebracketed onto the front of the name Anne.
- The name saw its highest popularity in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s.