Nan: Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance

Meaning
Grace, favor (inherited from Ann/Hannah); as a nickname, just a rhyming pet form
Origin
English pet form of Ann/Nancy (ultimately Hebrew, via Hannah)
Gender
Girl
Pronunciation
NAN

Nan is an English pet form of Ann/Nancy (ultimately Hebrew, via Hannah) girl's name meaning “grace, favor (inherited from Ann/Hannah); as a nickname, just a rhyming pet form”. It appears in 2 of our baby name lists.

Meaning & Origin of Nan

Meaning: Grace, favor (inherited from Ann/Hannah); as a nickname, just a rhyming pet form.

Origin: English pet form of Ann/Nancy (ultimately Hebrew, via Hannah).

A common claim: Said to mean 'gracious' as an Old English short form of Anne Actually: Nan isn't itself an Old English word — it's a rhyming pet-form of Ann/Nancy; the 'grace/favor' meaning it carries comes from Ann's Hebrew root (Hannah), not from an independent Old English source.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Nan

NANIPA /næn/

Popularity of Nan

Lists That Include Nan

Similar Names

Mabel · Dot · Opal · Hazel · Sol · Cora

More Baby Name Inspiration