Nan Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Nan has its roots in Hebrew, derived from the name Hannah, which means grace or favor. It has evolved through various forms in different languages, including Anna and Nancy, before becoming popular as a standalone name in English. The name carries biblical significance due to its association with Hannah, the mother of Samuel. Today, it is seen as a traditional name often linked with affection and familiarity.
The name Nan is most popular in Georgia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Silent Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Nan has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Nan' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 658th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 551st out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 687th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2556th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 7211th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 21694th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 24101st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Nan' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Nan"
Pronunciation
/næn/
Origin
English
Etymology
The name Nan is derived from the Hebrew name 'Hannah', meaning 'grace' or 'favor'. It has been used as a diminutive or affectionate form of names like Nancy and Ann.
Meaning
grace, favor
Language Evolution
Hannah (Hebrew), Anna (Latin), Anne (French), Nancy (English), Nan (English)
Biblical Background
The name Hannah appears in the Bible, notably as the mother of the prophet Samuel.
Historical Usage
Nan became popular in the English-speaking world during the 17th century as a diminutive form of Nancy and has remained in use as a standalone name.
Variants & Derivatives
Nancy, Ann, Annie
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Nan is often perceived as a traditional and endearing name, commonly associated with grandmothers or older generations.
Famous People
Nan Goldin (Photographer), Nanette Fabray (Actress), Nan Britton (Author)
Explore More Nan Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Nan"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Nan"
"Nan" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 658th of 9107 | 2,172 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 551st of 9204 | 2,882 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 687th of 12526 | 3,755 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2556th of 19264 | 477 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 7211th of 27321 | 163 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 21694th of 35406 | 32 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 24101st of 30306 | 13 |
Regional Popularity of "Nan" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Nan" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
57.56% 815th/1416 |
36.33% 501st/1379 |
28.11% 665th/2366 |
75.04% 857th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
35.58% 550th/1546 |
30.33% 472nd/1556 |
23.25% 547th/2353 |
37.56% 581st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
28.83% 642nd/2227 |
24.12% 586th/2430 |
24.40% 696th/2853 |
30.56% 848th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
100.00% 2937th/2937 |
- |
74.82% 2632nd/3518 |
100.00% 4044th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Nan"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Nan" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.