Annelise is a female given name of German origin, derived from the Old High German elements "ann" meaning "grace" or "favor," and "lise," which is a diminutive form of the name "Liutgard." Liutgard was an old Germanic name that means "people-war." Thus, the name Annelise combines these meanings to denote "grace of the people."
The name Annelise gained popularity in the late 19th century and has since been used widely across various German-speaking regions. However, it is not limited to Germany alone; it can be found among other European countries as well.
Historically, there are no notable figures with the name Annelise that stand out significantly from those of similar names. Therefore, its history is largely tied to its linguistic origins and cultural usage over time.
In terms of pronunciation, Annelise is typically pronounced /ˈɑːnəlaɪz/ in English-speaking countries, with emphasis on the first syllable and a long 'a' sound as in "father." In German-speaking regions, it might be pronounced slightly differently but follows the same general pattern.
The name Annelise experienced significant popularity growth from the late 1970s onwards, with a notable spike in births occurring between 1985 and 2005. This period saw the highest number of births for this name, peaking at 217 births in 2005. However, there has been a steady decline in popularity since then, with only 140 births recorded in 2022. Over the entire period from 1930 to 2023, a total of 6118 babies were named Annelise.