Nancy
Nancy Origin and Meaning
To some, Nancy is a sweet, sparkly, vintage choice with plenty of energy and style. For it strays too much into '"old-lady" territory to be cool again yet. It's out of fashion in France, New Zealand, and Canada; it lingers towards to bottom of the US charts. In the UK however, Nancy has been a Top 100 name for nearly a decade where it fits right in with Evie, Mabel, and Pippa.
Nancy originated as a contraction of "mine Ancy", with Ancy being a nickname for name Annis, a Medieval English variant of Agnes. Later, in the 18th century, it began to be used as a nickname for Ann too, but also as a name within its own right. This could give it the possibly meanings of "my pure and holy one" or "my grace".
It is also a French place name, though in this case, the name is likely derived from Nanciao, a Ghaulish personal name, which came from nanto, meaning "river or valley" in Proto-Celtic.
As a name in its own right, it has always been in the US Top 1000, peaking between 1931 and 1962 when it remained in the Top 20. In 1940 alone, Nancy was given to about 20,000 baby girls. In recent years, however it has been on a downward trend, and as of 2023, it was given to 280 girls, holding on to just a small fraction of the sway in held in the mid-century.
Today, it might feel like a distinctly British choice then, nickname-y and old-fashioned, but pleasing to say and easy to spell. It also has a couple of interesting variations itself, such as Nan, Nance, Nanette, Nanny, Nansi, and Nanou.
Nancy is a major character in Oliver Twist and is fondly remembered by some as Nancy Drew, girl detective, while contemporary kids are enjoying the Fancy Nancy series. Frank Sinatra paid tribute to his daughter with the song "Nancy with the Laughing Face." Nancy also has political ties, via the mother of Abraham Lincoln, the wife of Ronald Reagan (born Anne), and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
- Nancy Rank in US Top 1000
- Nancy Rank in Nameberry Top 1000
- Names Similar to Nancy
- Famous People Named Nancy
- Nancy in Pop Culture
- Nancy in Nameberry Blog Posts
Nancy Rank in US Top 1000
Nancy Rank in Nameberry Top 1000
Nancy Popularity
20 Names Similar to Nancy
Famous People Named Nancy
- Nancy Hanks Lincolnmother of Abraham Lincoln
- Nancy Davis Reagan (born Anne Frances Robbins)U.S. First Lady as wife of President Ronald Reagan
- Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosiformer U.S. Speaker of the House
- Nancy Lamoureaux WilsonAmerican lead singer of band Heart
- Nancy Sandra SinatraAmerican singer; daughter of singer/actor Frank Sinatra
- Nancy Jean CartwrightAmerican voice actress
- Nancy Ann KerriganAmerican Olympic figure skating champ
- Nancy Nabil AjramLebanese pop singer
- Nancy Ann GraceAmerican legal commentator and prosecutor
- Nancy MitfordEnglish novelist
- Nancy Justine McKeonAmerican actress
- Nancy WakeNew Zealand agent in World War II
- Nancy Laura Spungengirlfriend of the Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious
- Anna Selina "Nancy" StoraceEnglish soprano
- Nancy Jane KulpAmerican character actress
- Nancy Ann TravisAmerican actress
- Nancy Camerondaughter of British Prime Minister, David Cameron
- Nancy Leigh "Naleigh" Kelly (adopted 2009)daughter of American actress Katherine Heigl
- Nancy Jewel McDonieAmerican, Korean singer of girl group Momoland
- Nancy "Ka Shen" KwanChinese,American actress
Nancy in Pop Culture
- Nancy Botwinmain character on TV's "Weeds"
- Nancy Drewmystery series created by Carolyn Keene and its main character
- Nancycharacter in Dickens' "Oliver Twist"
- Nancycharacter in Archie & Friends comics
- Nancy Callahancharacter in novel/film "Sin City"
- Nancycharacter on "Kimberly"
- Nancy Nicholscharacter on TV's "Doc"
- Nancy Bobofitcharacter in the 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' series
- Nancy Ingeldewcharacter in Jenny Nimmo's "The Children of the Red King" series
- Nancy Downscharacter in movie "The Craft"
- Nancy Landgraabcharacter in "The Sims" (3&4) computer games
- Nancy Wheelercharacter on TV's "Stranger Things"
- Nancy Westoncharacter on TV's "Thirtysomething"
- Miss Nancymain character in novelette "The Sitter's Hand" by author Tina Tirrell
- "Nancy Mulligan" song by Ed Sheeran
- "Fancy Nancy" children's book and TV series
- "For the Love of Nancy" 1994 made,for,TV movie
- "Sid and Nancy" 1986 British biopic about Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen
- Nancy Blackettmain character in the "Swallows and Amazons" series
- Nancycomic strip character
- Nancy Shawcrosscharacter in "A God in Ruins" by Kate Atkinson
- Nancy Goldfinchcharacter in the webcomic "Riverside Extras" by Miri Chamberlain
- Nancy Landgraabcharacter in the Sims franchise
Nancy in Nameberry Blog Posts
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