The name Ann is a popular female given name of Latin origin, derived from the name Anna or Anne. It is believed to have been brought to England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Ann is the shortened form of Anne, which comes from the Hebrew name Hannah. In Hebrew, Hannah means "grace" or "favor." The name Ann has been widely used throughout history and has been associated with many notable figures, such as Queen Anne of Great Britain (1702-1714) and Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl whose diary chronicled her experiences during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
The name Ann has also been popular in literature and pop culture. It is the given name of characters in works such as "Ann of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery and "Anne of Avonlea," as well as the title character in the film "Anne of the Thousand Days." In more recent years, it has been used as a given name for celebrities like actress Anne Hathaway and musician Ann Wilson.
Despite its long history and widespread use, the name Ann remains a classic choice for parents looking to give their daughter a timeless and elegant name. Its simplicity and familiarity make it easy to recognize and pronounce in many languages, while its association with notable figures lends it an air of distinction and grace. Overall, the name Ann is a strong and enduring choice for a girl's given name.
The name Ann has been quite popular in the United States since the late 19th century. Between 1880 and 2023, there have been a total of 469,813 births registered with the name Ann.
The popularity of the name Ann peaked in the early to mid-20th century. In the year 1957, there were 9,041 births registered with the name Ann, which was the highest number of births for that name in any given year during this time period.
However, since the 1960s, the popularity of the name Ann has been declining steadily. In the year 2022, there were only 230 births registered with the name Ann, marking a significant decrease from its peak in the mid-20th century.
Despite this decline in popularity, the name Ann remains a classic and timeless choice for many parents. It has consistently ranked among the top 1,000 most popular names for girls in the United States over the past century.