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The short answer
Nancy is a feminine name used in English and Spanish. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Previously a medieval diminutive of Annis, though since the 18th century it has been a diminutive of Ann. It is now usually regarded as an independent name." It ranked #967 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, previously a medieval diminutive of Annis, though since the 18th century it has been a diminutive of Ann. It is now usually regarded as an independent name. The entry lists its usage as English, Spanish (Latin American).
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Nancy ranked #967 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #967 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Nancy in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nancy mean?
Behind the Name does not give Nancy a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: previously a medieval diminutive of Annis, though since the 18th century it has been a diminutive of Ann.
Is Nancy a popular name?
Nancy ranked #967 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Nancy a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Nancy appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Nancy — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
