Nancy
Nancy is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Grace, or favored.
Origin and history
Nancy originated in English during the Middle Ages as a diminutive of Nan, which itself was a short form of Anne (from Hebrew Hannah). It evolved into an independent given name by the 18th century and became exceptionally popular in the United States during the mid-20th century. Over one million American females have been given the name since 1880.
Popularity in the United States
1,004,448 babies in the United States have been named Nancy since 1880. It ranks #13 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #898.
States where it is most popular
- NY (9.5 %)
- CA (8.3 %)
- PA (7.6 %)
- IL (6.3 %)
- OH (5.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 4,792 |
| 1890-1900 | 5,346 |
| 1900-1910 | 5,733 |
| 1910-1920 | 17,283 |
| 1920-1930 | 43,807 |
| 1930-1940 | 142,488 |
| 1940-1950 | 252,061 |
| 1950-1960 | 286,812 |
| 1960-1970 | 142,724 |
| 1970-1980 | 41,850 |
| 1980-1990 | 25,493 |
| 1990-2000 | 19,495 |
| 2000-2010 | 10,959 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,928 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,677 |
Famous people named Nancy
- Nancy Reagan: First Lady, Actress
- Nancy Pelosi: Politician, Speaker of the House
- Nancy Sinatra: Singer, Actress
Nicknames
Nan, Nance, Nannie
Fun facts
- Nancy originally developed from the phrase 'mine Anne', which evolved into 'Nanne' and eventually Nancy.
- Nancy spent over two decades ranked among the top 10 most popular female names in the U.S. during the 1930s to 1950s.