Names That Mean Grace

Predominantly used in Austria, Southern Germany, and Switzerland, Amrei can be viewed as both a contracted form of the classic Annemarie, and as a smoosh name in its own right, blending Anna and Maria. Used since at least the 1850s when it appeared in the short story Barfüßele by German writer Berthold Auerbach, Amrei has a distinctive ending and a lively, slightly off-beat feel.
 
Notable bearers include actress Amrei Haardt and philosopher Amrei Bahr.

Amrei

Popular in France in the mid-20th-century, Lysiane is a sweet but sharp compound name blending the French Lys and the classic Anne. 
 
The name has a double meaning because Lys is both a short form of Élisabeth and associated with the French word lis meaning "lily". Lysiane could therefore be interpreted as meaning "graceful lily" or "pledged to God's grace."
 
Other sources suggest it could be a short form of Lysianassa, a Greek name meaning "queen who liberates and releases", or perhaps even of Lysandra, meaning "liberator". Its use in France is more likely linked to it being a compound name. 
 
Notable bearers of the name include actresses Lysiane Meis and Lysiane Rey and journalist Lysiane Gagnon, while alternative forms include Lysianne and Lysiana.

Lysiane

A little like Adrianne, this compound name blends classic Anne with modern Aubrey. 

Aubrianne

Hannibal might be ever be connected to the fictional cannibal, Hannibal Lecter, to English ears, but this Spanish and Portuguese form provides a degree of remove from the association. Familiar (but not overly popular) in Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, and Spain, it also appeared briefly in the US Top 1000 back in the 60s and 70s, spelled without the accent, possibly thanks to the wrester known mononymously as Aníbal 
 
The name ultimately derives from Phoenician, blending the hann element, meaning "grace", with the deity title, Ba'al, making it a name that celebrates a number of storm and fertility gods from Semitic mythology. 
 
Notable bearers include former president of Portugal, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, footballer Aníbal Capela, footballer Aníbal Moreno, and sociologist Aníbal Quijano.
 
Around 35 boys were called Aníbal (or Anibal) in the US in a recent year.

Aníbal

Two popular choices in one, this hyphenated name has made several appearances in the England and Wales Top 1000. It may be interpreted to mean "island of grace", "graceful island" or "island's grace". 

Isla-grace

Though Yize recently featured in the Top 10 names for boys in China, it is a unisex option. Popularly written to mean "grand benevolence" for boys, alternative character combinations can give you the meanings  "bright marshland", "reliable grace", and "suitable brilliance".

Yize

Predominantly used for girls, Annie did rank in the US Top 1000 in the 1930s, perhaps owing to data entry errors. Nevertheless, it could make an unexpected nickname for Andrew, Antonio, or Anthony. 

Annie

A rare variation on the classic Ana, this name is used nearly exclusively in its native Brazil. While it may be viewed as simply an elaborative form, it could also be a compound name, blending either Ana and Petronília, giving it the meaning "graceful stone, graceful rock" or "graceful yokel", or Ana and Nelia (from Cornelia), meaning "graceful horn". 
 
The name is also written as Ana Nília.

Ananília

Also spelled as Annick, this French name is a succinct form of the Breton Annaig, itself a diminutive of classic Anna. It was popular in the 1930s and 40s in France, though never as popular as Annick. 
 
A notable bearer is ice hockey player Annic Buchi.

Annic

A name that balances elegance and clunkiness, Gracinda is a Portuguese elaboration of Graça,  itself a cognate of English virtue name, Grace. Familiar in Brazil in the 1930s and 40s, notable bearers include actresses Gracinda Freire and Gracinda Nave. 

Gracinda

A Dutch and Flemish diminutive of the classic Anna, this name might make a quirky, offbeat choice, though it may also remind people of Anakin (or Darth Vader) in the Star Wars franchise. Rarely used as a given name, a similar options include Annelien, Anouk, and Annefien.

Annekien

A rare diminutive of Ann, given to a small number of girls each year in Wales. Casting director Nanw Rowlands is one bearer of the name. 

Nanw

This elaborate pet form of the classic Ann is used (in various spellings) in several parts of Europe.

Anoesjka

Raelynn meets McKenna and McKenzie in this yet-to-be-discovered surname choice. Derived from Mag Raith meaning "son of Rath" or more poetically, "son of prosperity", this tough but cool Mc- name has potential.
 
Rally driver Colin McRae and singer Tate McRae are notable associations.

Mcrae

Mc- names beyond McKenzie are catching on, with Mccoy and Mac now in the US Top 1000 for boys. Rugged but cool McRae might be another possibility, given to just five boys in a recent year. 
 
A name of Scottish origin, it comes from the Gaelic Mag Raith, meaning "son of Rath", or, more figuratively, "son of prosperity" if you consider the meaning of given name Rath.
 
Rally driver Colin McRae and singer Tate McRae are notable surname-bearers.

Annemary is a familiar yet unusual compound name reminiscent of more popular cousins Maryanne and Annemarie. Dutch model Annemary Aderibigbe gives it a welcome touch of glamour.

Annemary

Lizanne does not sound as dated as other hybrids.  Lizanne can also be spelled Lisanne — both are pronounced with the z sound.

Lizanne

Nanny, like Fanny, is an old-fashioned nickname not due for a comeback any time soon.

Nanny

This form of the Arabic Zaina is a recently popular choice in Bosnia and Herzegovinia. A name with a pleasant meaning and appealing sound, it ultimately derives from the popular Arabic boy name, Zayn. 
 
One notable bearer is the Serbian singer Zejna, formally of the pop band Luna, now a solo singer who participated in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest.

Zejna

This spelling variation of the color name Gray could also be a diminutive form of Graham — though it could also derive from Grace. Currently a gender-neutral choice in the US, it is borne by Olympic windsurfer Grae Morris, singer Grae Phillips, and baseball player Grae Kessinger.