This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance
- Meaning
- The licorice-scented anise plant/spice
- Origin
- Greek (via Latin anisum)
- Gender
- Primarily used for girls
- Pronunciation
- AN-iss
Anise is the name of the licorice-scented plant and spice, and it comes from Greek by way of the Latin word anisum. It's a short, soft-sounding name with a botanical feel, for parents who like a name that points to something you can actually smell and taste in the kitchen.
Meaning & Origin of Anise
Meaning: The licorice-scented anise plant/spice.
Origin: Greek (via Latin anisum).
How to Pronounce Anise
AN-issIPA /ˈæn.ɪs/
Popularity of Anise
Anise has always been rare in the U.S. Its highest rank was #1344 in 1901, with 7 babies given the name, and by 2024 it sat at #15431 with just 5 babies.
Names Like Anise
These names have followed a similar path to Anise in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Anise mean?
The licorice-scented anise plant/spice.
How do you pronounce Anise?
Anise is pronounced AN-iss (IPA: /ˈæn.ɪs/).
Is Anise a popular name right now?
Anise peaked at #1344 in 1901 and is ranked #15431 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1893–2024.)
Make Anise Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Anise, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Anise? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →




