Nancy Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Nancy is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Nancy?
Nancy is spelled N-A-N-C-Y. The name has 5 letters.
Nancy at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Nancy may derive from “Anne”, meaning “grace” or “favor”, and has been historically used as a diminutive form.
- Origin
- Nancy is commonly associated as a diminutive form of Ann or Anne, which are names with biblical and European origins.
- Pronunciation
- nan-see · 2 syllables
Nancy Popularity in 2025
Rank#965
Recorded Births265
- Girls usage fell 51 places to #965 and recorded 25 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Nancy Mean?
Nancy may derive from “Anne”, meaning “grace” or “favor”, and has been historically used as a diminutive form.
Origin: Nancy is commonly associated as a diminutive form of Ann or Anne, which are names with biblical and European origins.
How Do You Pronounce Nancy?
Pronunciationnan-see
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Nancy?
- History
- The name Nancy has been used in English-speaking countries since at least the 18th century as a diminutive of Ann and later evolved into an independent given name.
Nancy Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2003 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 265 | #965 |
| 2024 | Girls | 290 | #914 |
| 2023 | Girls | 281 | #941 |
| 2022 | Girls | 267 | #991 |
| 2021 | Girls | 279 | #945 |
| 2020 | Girls | 295 | #896 |
| 2019 | Girls | 298 | #893 |
| 2018 | Girls | 326 | #833 |
| 2017 | Girls | 314 | #870 |
| 2016 | Girls | 310 | #899 |
| 2015 | Girls | 345 | #812 |
| 2014 | Girls | 371 | #755 |
| 2013 | Girls | 412 | #687 |
| 2012 | Girls | 437 | #651 |
| 2011 | Girls | 541 | #537 |
| 2010 | Girls | 574 | #519 |
| 2009 | Girls | 667 | #463 |
| 2008 | Girls | 858 | #379 |
| 2007 | Girls | 903 | #362 |
| 2006 | Girls | 1,017 | #325 |
| 2005 | Girls | 1,017 | #317 |
| 2004 | Girls | 1,151 | #289 |
| 2004 | Boys | 5 | #11,356 |
| 2003 | Girls | 1,179 | #267 |
When Was Nancy Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1947 · Girls
32,445 recorded births
National rank #7
1952 · Girls
31,739 recorded births
National rank #7
1953 · Girls
30,620 recorded births
National rank #8
1951 · Girls
30,346 recorded births
National rank #7
Where Nancy Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| WI | #447 | 11 |
| PA | #452 | 23 |
| SC | #614 | 7 |
| AL | #633 | 7 |
| KY | #653 | 6 |
| NY | #679 | 24 |
| IN | #721 | 8 |
| MO | #728 | 7 |