Nancy Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Nancy has its roots in Hebrew and French, meaning grace or favor. It evolved from Anna and Anne, becoming a standalone name in France before spreading to English-speaking countries. It is characterized by a warm and friendly image and has biblical relevance through its connection to 'Anna.'
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Nancy"
Pronunciation
/ˈnæn.si/
Origin
Hebrew and French
Etymology
The name Nancy is derived from the Hebrew name 'Anna,' which means 'grace' or 'favor.' It was popularized in France as a diminutive of the name 'Anne' and became an independent name in its own right.
Meaning
grace, favor
Language Evolution
Anna, Anne, Nancy
Historical Usage
Nancy gained popularity in the 18th century, especially in France, and became widely used in English-speaking countries during the 19th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Nan, Nannie, Nance
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Nancy is perceived as a traditional and classic name, often associated with warmth and friendliness. It has seen a decline in popularity in recent decades but remains a recognizable name.
Famous People
Nancy Reagan, Nancy Sinatra, Nancy Wilson
📊 Nancy Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Nancy Name Visualizations
✨ Nancy Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 32,502 peak births in 1947
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Massachusetts
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 13 different American generations with varying popularity
🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Nancy" - Complete Guide (6 Names)
Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Nancy". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 6 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.
Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Nancy" that fits your preferences.
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Nancy"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Nancy"
"Nancy" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2557th of 7545 | 164 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 858th of 6773 | 997 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1050th of 7552 | 966 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1776th of 10718 | 410 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2729th of 16616 | 357 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 13297th of 24088 | 44 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 92nd of 9107 | 53,741 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 9th of 9204 | 287,503 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 8th of 12526 | 497,868 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 52nd of 19264 | 95,772 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 127th of 27321 | 37,756 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 299th of 35406 | 16,936 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 858th of 30306 | 3,784 |
Regional Popularity of "Nancy" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
41.59% 643rd/1546 |
40.04% 623rd/1556 |
73.40% 1727th/2353 |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
39.29% 875th/2227 |
29.96% 728th/2430 |
- |
52.76% 1464th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
43.32% 1509th/3483 |
55.91% 1967th/3518 |
41.02% 1659th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
44.86% 2330th/5194 |
18.89% 1193rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Nancy" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
8.33% 118th/1416 |
5.22% 72nd/1379 |
3.13% 74th/2366 |
7.71% 88th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
0.45% 7th/1546 |
0.51% 8th/1556 |
0.64% 15th/2353 |
0.58% 9th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
0.31% 7th/2227 |
0.41% 10th/2430 |
0.56% 16th/2853 |
0.36% 10th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
2.08% 61st/2937 |
1.09% 38th/3483 |
1.85% 65th/3518 |
1.36% 55th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
5.83% 215th/3685 |
3.60% 161st/4475 |
2.91% 151st/5194 |
1.12% 71st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
9.34% 428th/4582 |
6.86% 354th/5164 |
4.49% 328th/7313 |
2.67% 199th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
24.50% 976th/3984 |
16.00% 718th/4487 |
13.57% 926th/6822 |
13.00% 816th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Nancy"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Nancy" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Nancy" in the United States
The name Nancy is most popular in Massachusetts, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Nancy has been stalled for male in MidWest, falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, falling for female in West. Across generations, 'Nancy' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2557th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 858th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1050th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1776th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2729th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 13297th out of 24088 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 92nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 9th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 8th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 52nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 127th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 299th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 858th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Nancy' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.