Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Let’s talk about Ann…

103 replies

KAM4 · 24/08/2024 22:07

Just for context I’m not pregnant but did have a baby this year so often think about baby names still. My middle name is Ann (I know it’s a common middle name for a certain generation) and I have aunts on both sides (one Anne & one Ann).
I find it funny to think of both my grandmothers choosing such a simple, one syllable name for their new baby girls when we give names such time and thought now, to choose something so simple (& at the time, common, seems so odd). It makes me wonder if Ann as a name is dead?
I do occasionally hear of names like Mary, Catherine, Margaret (Maggie) for babies but never of Ann.
I think of glamorous actresses like Ann Margaret and think it sounds classic & cool double-barrelled but am I wrong to think it’s just too simple to make a modern comeback on its own?
PS: I know Annie and Anna are still popular but they have that extra syllable so are different to me.
PPS: no offence to any Ann/Annes out there, it’s my middle name also so I feel it’s partly my name too!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Somuchbetternow · 27/08/2024 21:14

I’m Ann-without-an-e, as I always have to say. I became an Annie naturally by teenage friends and have stuck with that, which I think suits me better.

It’s just boring, and too short - if you say it fast you’d miss it.

KAM4 · 27/08/2024 22:34

deeahgwitch · 27/08/2024 18:28

I the past in Ireland it was very Catholic.
So many women of a certain vintage were called Mary in honour of the Roman Catholic Mother of Jesus, Our Lady- Mary.
If they weren't calked Mary it seemed like they were called Anne or Ann after Our Lady's mother Anne/Ann.

The roll call in primary schools all over Ireland in the 40's, 50's and very early 60s would be full of Marys and Anns/Annes. 😀

Yes definitely, I’m Irish & nearly everyone I know has an ‘Auntie Ann(e)’ (I have two!)

Happy to hear there’s a little Anne Margaret, I hope she loves her name & that it does have a revival in years to come!

OP posts:
Daisybuttercup12345 · 31/08/2024 23:43

BabaYetu · 26/08/2024 00:02

That’s funny, to me they feel completely different.

Like Catherine and Katherine. Totally different feel because of the letters.

I feel names too. Dislike Stephen but like Steven. Dislike Marc but like Mark because it feels better.
I thought it was just me.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread