Annie names range from straightforward classics to fanciful imports, plus everything in between.
The most famous bearer of the name Annie is fictional. The comic strip turned Broadway musical has twice been re-invented for the big screen.
Most recently Quvezhané Wallis played the optimistic orphan – now a foster kid. Jamie Foxx became a re-imagined Daddy Warbucks, now named Will Stacks. In real life, Jamie is dad to daughter Annalise.
Annie names are everywhere.
Saints and queens have answered to Ann, including the mother of the Virgin Mary. It feels spare and elegant, whether spelled the English Ann or the French Anne-with-an-e. Anne of Green Gables insisted on the latter, but also asked to be called Cordelia, because “Anne is such an unromantic name.”
Annie feels a little different. A Top 100 name from the nineteenth century into the 1940s, it even appeared in the US Top Ten for a few years. Annie reads casual and sparky. There’s the comic strip character, but also Annie Oakley, fictionalized in Annie Get Your Gun.
Annie names go farther than Ann and Anne, offering even more inventive ways to reach the nickname.
OBVIOUS ANNIE NAMES
ANN and ANNE
The two spellings trade places over the years, with Ann on top sometimes, and trailing at others. Strictly speaking, the ‘e’ version is French, but Ann, Anne, Annie, and other forms can be found in English from the Middle Ages through the present day. In recent decades, Anne leads in the US.
ANA and ANNA
Another subtle spelling difference separates two obvious Annie names. The Old Testament Channah became Hannah, and eventually Anna, especially in the New Testament. Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina makes it literary, while Disney’s Frozen places it among the Disney princesses. Spell it Ana, and the name leans Spanish and Portuguese, though Ana is also preferred in some southern European languages.
ANNIE
While the early years of Social Security data aren’t terribly reliable, women have been named just Annie over the years. In the 2014 version of the story, the title character’s legal name is Annie Bennett.
THE DIMINUTIVES
Plenty of languages create diminutives – affectionate, nickname forms – by adding syllables. Think of -ita and -ette. Instead of lengthening, American English speakers typically reduce names. Many of these options started out as nicknames in other languages. But it would be easy to imagine these serving as formal names for Annie instead.
ANNETTE
A 1950s favorite, Mickey Mouse Club member Annette Funicello boosted her name. That makes it feel a little dated today, but French names and -et/-ette names for girls both have potential.
ANITA
Another 1950s and 60s favorite, Anita might appeal for another reason. It’s the feminine form of Sanskrit name Anit.
ANNIKA
Annika is Swedish, but this name can also be spelled Anika and even Anica. But it also claims Sanskrit roots, especially when spelled with a single K, making it another cross cultural option. Pro golfer Annika Sorenstam, actor Anika Noni Rose of Dreamgirls and The Princess and the Frog fame are just two familiar figures.
THE SMOOSHES
ANNABEL and ANNABELLE
Part-Edgar Allan Poe tragedy, part-pretty, Annabelle is an easy way to get to Annie … or Bella or Belle. The -elle spelling is more popular today, but Annabel had a good run, too.
ANNABETH
An Anne-Elizabeth mash-up, Annabeth makes this list thanks to the Percy Jackson series. As fans of the YA series know, she’s the daughter of Athena.
ANNAGRACE
An obvious smoosh of two classic girl names, with a twist: Anna means grace.
ANNALEE, ANALEE, ANNALIE, ANNELIE, ANNELI, and ANELIE
Depending on the spelling, this name can feel like an Anna-Lee combination, or maybe an elaboration in the key of Rosalie. Germans use Annelie as a nickname for Anneliese. Of course, spelling options abound.
ANNALISE, ANNELIESE, ANNELISE and ANNALISA
Anneliese comes from German, a smoosh of Anne and Elizabeth. Phonetically, Anneliese sounds more like Annalisa, but most American parents prefer a three-syllable pronunciation: Annalise. Viola Davis played Annalise – three syllables – for six seasons in How to Get Away With Murder.
ANNAMARIE, ANAMARIA, ANNEMARIE, and MARIANNE
It doesn’t get much more classic than Ann and Mary, and the two names have been combined many ways over the ages. At five syllables, Annamaria is among the longest of girl names, but still feels easy to pronounce.
ANNAROSE
While Annarose isn’t a terribly common smoosh among Annie names, it works beautifully – as a first or a middle.
ANNEGRET
Shove Anne and Margaret together, drop a few syllables, and Annegret is the result. It’s used in German, as well as Scandinavian languages.
THE IMPORTS
ANAÏS
A French form of Anne, Anaïs Nin made it familiar. It’s more common in France, but American parents are warming to the name lately, too. Pronounce it ah nah EES.
ANOUK
Also used in French, as well as Dutch, Anouk sounds distinctive but accessible in English. You might recognize it thanks to French actor Anouk Aimee.
ANNEKE
Another Dutch entry in the Annie names category, formed by adding the popular -ke ending to Anne.
ANYA, ANJA, and ANNUSHKA
Anya and Anja appear in many European languages, while Annushka is exclusive to Russian. Like Annie, they’re often nicknames in their own right. Of course, that probably makes them equivalents of Annie, rather than formal name options.
NOT EXACTLY ANNES
Lots of girls’ names include the ann sound, but aren’t necessarily Annie names. Here are just a few of the more popular options.
ANASTASIA
A Greek name meaning resurrection, Anastasia brings to mind a doomed Russian princess. And, of course, there’s the animated musical with a much happier ending, very loosely based on her life.
ANDREA
A feminine form of Andrew, Andrea peaked around 1980. But Annie works every bit as well as Andi or Drea if you’re after a nickname to fresh things up.
ANTONIA and ANTONELLA
While we rarely think of it, any of the feminine forms of Anthony could easily become Annie names.
ANNIE NAMES FROM THE LAST SYLLABLE
Too many names end with -ana or -anna to count, and they could all easily become Annie names.
ARIANA and ARIANNA
Chart-topping favorites of recent years, Ariana and Arianna fit this pattern perfectly.
GIANNA and JOANNA
Feminine forms of John, Gianna and Joanna easily shorten to Annie.
JULIANA, JULIANNA and JULIANNE
Any of the longer forms of Julia lend themselves to this nickname.
LEANNA, LIANNA, LYANNA
Call them the opposite of Annalee and company. Smoosh Lee and Anna in reverse order, and you’ll arrive at this set of names. The Lyanna spelling, of course, is a little different – it’s pronounced with an ‘eye’ instead of an ‘ee’ sound, and feels very Game of Thrones.
SAVANNAH
A place name that just happens to end with the Anna sound, that’s probably why Savannah has long felt like a wearable choice for a daughter.
SUSANNA and SUSANNAH
Because of that -anna ending, Susanna fits on this list.
What’s your favorite formal name for Annie? Are there any that you would add to this list?
First published on January 2, 2015, this post was revised on June 17, 2020.
2 to add! Annegret & AnnaRae
My 1 year old daughter is called Annapriya – a nice combo for her Aussie / Indian heritage. She also goes by Anna quite a bit. 🙂
Oh that is GORGEOUS, Mary! 🙂
That is absolutely GORGEOUS oh my goodness!! <3 <3 <3 I have a 4 year old (well- 4 in 10 days) called Annabelle Lee (inspired by the famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe – Annabel Lee) but I have such a love for heritage/cultural based names and I think you just hit the jackpot of them all! Annapriya… it just radiates beauty, grace, and even royalty!
My best friend is called Annie I HAVE to tell her about your beautiful combo!
Wishing you and your little one safety and good health <3
My name is Ani, I like the name Anakeh pernounced Anika since I like the boy name Anakin.
The name Melanie can also work, if you take the ‘Mel’ off, you are just one letter short of Annie.
My name is Anastasia and my nickname is usually Annie. I also know an Annemarie and Annabelle who sometimes go by Annie or even Annika. I love the sound of Annie, it’s so childlike, playful, youthful, and cute. People love to call me Annie and I don’t mind, but they like to use my full name too.
My name is Anneke, or rather my given name is Johanne Albertien, Johanne shortened and affectionate became Anneke. Conveniently referencing three grandparents in one fell swoop. 🙂 Anyway, my Anneke is derived from Johanne, so that’s also a possibility.
Our son was going to be Annelise or Anneliese nn Annie. But now we have a boy and I’m not sure we’d use the name if we have a girl next. The variety of spellings bother me (I thought I’d only consider the two above but now I think maybe Annalise makes some sense) and I’m a stickler about names needing to be obvious in spelling. Also our son has an ‘ie’ nickname and it’s a little cutesy to also have an Annie. Then…I also wonder about just using Anne as a first name with middle name Elise? Or hyphenated? Obviously, I’ve thought about this plenty and you can see why I’m not sold on using it given the issues, but I do adore Annie. I wonder if we missed the popularity spike as well?
I’m an Angela, and my nickname with family members is Annie. My mother didn’t think that Angie was a baby nickname for Angela, so she called me Annie instead 🙂
I could also see Samantha as a possible long name for an Annie! Also Joanna, Susanna… anything with an “an” in there somewhere.
I know a Cheyenne who answers to Annie. I’ve always found it cool in an unexpected way.
I know a couple considering Epiphany for their daughter… that could have the nickname of Annie or Ann. Which makes me think Stephanie or Tiffany could also use those nicknames, too.
Good write-up, Abby!
I have THREE neighbors, all older than me, who go by Annie… For two of them, their given names are Anastasia & Andrea & I think the third is something like Florian?
My niece name is just Anne (and SIL insists on her not to be called Annie 😉 .) But I know they also considered Liane & Luana.
My seven month old daughter’s name is Ann. What’s surprised me so far is how warmly people react when telling me that their middle name is Ann, or that it’s their mother/grandmother’s name. Its funny how people think of common as being a bad thing, whereas having something in common is usually positive.
I’ve always thought the 14th C Silesian variant Enneleyn was awfully pretty!
Now that is a gorgeous find!
I’ve always loved Anja and Anya. Unfortunately, I had a bad roommate experience (not a bad roommate, just a bad experience) involving an Anya, and so I think the name is off the table for me.
I know a little Annaliese about 9 years old and she goes by Annie. It works beautifully on her, and I think the name will age well with her no matter what she decides to call herself as she gets older.
I’m also partial to Annika and “Anne with an e”.
I also narrowly escaped being called Sara Ann, as my mother and grandmother both have Ann for their middle. I don’t care for Ann/e as a middle as it seems generic to me, so I’m much happier with the middle I got, the lovely Arthurian Elaine.