Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Annie

Annie is the diminutive of Anne. Anne is the English form of the Latin Anna which comes from the Hebrew name Hannah from the word “channah” being ‘grace, favor’. The root source of this name is Hannah who was borne from the Bible as the mother of Samuel (a prophet of central importance in the Old Testament). She suffered through torturous years of barrenness (remember Sarah, Rebecca and Rachel went through the same thing before producing Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, respectively). Hannah prayed mightily to God promising that if she has a child, she would dedicate him to the Lord. Soon afterwards, she conceived and gave birth to a son, Samuel (by the ‘grace’ of God or as a ‘favor’ from Him). Hannah eventually became Anna which was anglicized to Anne which produced Annie. In more modern times, the pet form of Annie became an independently given name in its own right. It is currently a Top 50 name in Northern Ireland and a Top 100 in Sweden.

All About the Baby Name – Annie

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME ANNIE

The number Seven personality is deeply mystical and highly in tune with their spirituality. They operate on a different wavelength than the average joe. Spending time alone comes easily to Sevens, as it gives them time to contemplate philosophical, religious and spiritual ideas in an effort to find "real truth".  Sevens are wise, but often exude mystery as if they are tapped into something the rest of us don't understand. They love the outdoors and are fed by nature. Sevens are constantly seeking to understand human nature, our place in the universe, and the mystery of life in general. This makes them quite artistic and poetic, but they are also keen observers with high intellect - so they are equally scientific-minded. Sevens are charitable and care deeply about the human condition.

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME ANNIE

Annie has been a long used independently given name in the United States. She has remained on the charts in perpetuity since the government first began tracking naming trends at the end of the 19th century. In fact, at the turn of the 20th century in the year 1900 Annie was the 11th most popular girl’s name in America. The name remained on the Top 50 list of most commonly used girl names up until the late 1930s. The name slowly declined in usage, fell off the Top 100 list in the 1950s and continues her slow and steady decline into the 21st century. This surprised us a little bit. The name has endurance, it has that childlike cute quality so many parents find appealing, and she’s associated with the plucky and optimistic Little Orphan Annie (created from a poem which inspired a comic strip which ultimately inspired the Broadway musical). And don’t forget Annie Oakley for that matter. Today, parents are opting for the more sophisticated Anna over Annie and Anne. When it comes to diminutives, today’s trends favor names like Ella, Bella, and Ellie over a name like Annie. As the “Anne” family of names has been in heavy use for centuries, it seems that parents are finding them a little ho-hum today. We have no doubt that this spunky little gal will hind her way back into your good ‘graces’ at some point in the not so distant future.

Quick Facts

ON ANNIE

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

English

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

354

PRONUNCIATION:

AN-nee

SIMPLE MEANING:

Grace, favor

Characteristics

OF ANNIE

Mystical

Wise

Eccentric

Intuitive

Imaginative

Philosophical

Solitary

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Annie

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME ANNIE

Little Orphan Annie is the young heroine of the very popular comic strip of the same name created by Harold Gray in 1924, which itself was inspired by a 1885 poem “Little Orphant Annie” written by James Whitcomb Riley. The comic strip has since been adapted into a Broadway musical, several films and a radio show. Annie is a red-haired plucky orphaned girl who makes her way through countless adventures with her dog, Sandy, as she brings her wide (vacant)-eyed optimism to bear on life’s vagaries. She is mentored and protected by “Daddy” Warbucks, a self-made millionaire with a cruel and meddlesome wife, the source of many of Annie’s troubles. Annie is a kind of embodiment of the American dream – no matter how humble your circumstances, with the right attitude and work ethic, you can overcome hardship and have fun in the offing. Depressions, wars and child labor violations be damned – we know “The sun’ll come out tomorrow”.

Daddy Warbucks was featured in the comic strip “Little Orphan Annie” by Harold Gray, debuting in The Chicago Tribune in 1924. He is a rags-to-riches industrialist who, along with his wife, takes in the orphaned child, Annie, and provides security and comfort for her during a series of adventures. Widely adapted to radio, movie, television and musical forms, Daddy Warbucks became famous enough to be named to Forbes’ list of fictional wealthiest characters. His name has taken on a slightly less respectable life of its own, having evolved into a slang term for someone who provides for the lavish security of another, i.e., “a Daddy Warbucks”.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME ANNIE

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Annie


Popular Songs

ON ANNIE

Annie Mae
a song by Natalie Cole

Famous People

NAMED ANNIE

Annie Leibovitz (photographer)
Annie Lennox (musician)
Annie Oakley (sharpshooter)
Annie Leibovitz (photographer)
Annie Lennox (musician)
Annie Oakley (sharpshooter)
Annie Leibovitz (photographer)
Annie Lennox (musician)
Annie Oakley (sharpshooter)

Children of Famous People

NAMED ANNIE

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Annie

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME ANNIE

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Annie