Classic and timeless, the first name Anne continues to radiate an aura that is both gentle and majestic. Worn by around 226,000 people in France, it still appears in 2025 in the top 800 female first names according to L’Officiel des Prénoms (First Editions). From Saint Anne to Anne of Austria, it has marked the religious and royal history of Europe, while retaining its simplicity and depth.
Constantly growing popularity
Of Hebrew origin, Anne means “grace”. A meaning that has resonated for millennia with the wisdom and serenity that we often associate with those who bear this first name. Given since the early Middle Ages, the first name Anne enjoyed great regularity until the 19th century. Between 1960 and 1973, it was still among the twenty most given female first names in France. But at the turn of the 2000s, it gave ground to its derivative Anna, more international and perceived as more modern.
Despite this decline, Anne retains a special place in the hearts of many French families, seduced by her simplicity and the nobility of her biblical resonance.
A royal and spiritual heritage
Anne of Austria, regent of France, ensured the stability of the kingdom for thirteen years before Louis XIV came of age. Even more anciently, Saint Anne, wife of Saint Joachim, is venerated as the mother of the Virgin Mary and the grandmother of Jesus. According to Breton tradition, she was born in Brittany before moving to Judea, then returned to end her days in her native land.
These figures gave the first name Anne a dimension that was both spiritual and royal, between faith, wisdom and gentle authority.
A first name associated with wisdom and depth
Women named Anne are often distinguished by their clairvoyance, their appetite for knowledge and their analytical view of the world. This aura of reflection and harmony makes Anne a first name that is both classic and deeply human, capable of crossing the ages without ever losing its light.