Nancy is a feminine English language given name. The name Nancy was originally a diminutive form of Annis, a medieval English vernacular form of Agnes, which means "pure" or "holy". In some English dialects, "mine" was used instead of "my" and "Mine Ancy" eventually became Nancy. The name was also later used as an English diminutive of Anne, which is derived from the name Hannah, meaning favor or grace. It has been used as an independent name since the 18th century. https://www.behindthename.com/name/nancy In some instances it replaced variant Nanny, which was associated with the stereotype of a common, promiscuous woman from the 17th century onward. Spelling variants in use include Nancea, Nancee, Nancey, Nanci, Nancie, Nancsi, Nancye, Nanncey, Nanncy, Nansee, and Nansi. Similar names include Nan, Nance, Nanette, Nannerl, and Nannie.
Usage Nancy has been among the 1,000 most popular names for girls in the United States since 1880. It was among the top 100 most popular names for American girls between 1919 and 1978 and was at the height of its popularity between 1934 and 1955, when it was among the top 10 most popular names for American girls. It has since declined in use and was the 965th most popular name for newborn American girls in 2025. Its greatest popularity in Canada and New Zealand was also in the 20th century. The name has increased in use in England and Wales in recent years, where it has been among the 100 most popular names for newborn girls since 2014.
Nancy may refer to:
People
Nancy A. Becker (born 1955), American attorney and judge Nancy A. Hewitt (born 1951), American women historian Nancy A. Leatherwood (1872–1961), American club woman Nancy A. Monteiro-Riviere, American toxicologist Nancy A. Moran (born 1954), American evolutionary biologist, entomologist, and professor Nancy A. Roseman, American professor of biology Nancy Abelmann (1959–2016), American anthropologist and professor Nancy Abramson, American hazzan Nancy Abu-Bonsrah, American brain surgeon Nancy Abudu (born 1974), American lawyer and circuit judge Nancy Achebe (born 1962), Nigerian professor of library and information science Nancy Acora, Ugandan politician and legislator Nancy Adajania (born 1971), Indian cultural theorist, art critic, and independent curator Nancy Adam (1888–1982), Scottish trade union officer Nancy Adams (disambiguation), several people Nancy Addison (1946–2002), American actress Nancy Adkin Ritchie (1916–1964), New Zealand artist Nancy Adleman (1949–1997), American murder victim Nancy Adler (1946–2024), American health psychologist Nancy Agabian, American writer, activist, and teacher Nancy Agag (born 1979), Sudanese singer-songwriter and recording artist Nancy Agee (born 1955), American business executive Nancy Ajram (born 1983), Lebanese singer, television personality, and businesswoman Nancy Aldama (born 1946), Cuban gymnast Nancy Alexiadi (born 1981), Greek singer Nancy Allan (born 1952), Canadian politician Nancy Allbritton, American professor of bioengineering Nancy Allen, several people Nancy Alonso (1949–2018), Cuban biologist, university professor, and writer Nancy Alvarez, several people Nancy Amelia Woodbury Priest Wakefield (1836–1870), American poet Nancy Ames (born 1937), American folk singer and songwriter Nancy Ames (scientist), Canadian scientist Nancy Ammerman (born 1950), American professor of sociology of religion Nancy Andrew (1947–1998), American-born Japanese-English translator Nancy Andrews, several people Nancy Angelo (born 1953), American organizational psychologist and performance- and video artist Nancy Ann Cynthia Francis, Indian politician Nancy-Ann DeParle (born 1956), American politician Nancy Anne Sakovich (born 1961), Canadian actress and model Nancy Antonio (born 1996), Mexican professional footballer Nancy Apple, American musician, songwriter, producer, radio personality, NARAS executive, and owner of Ringo Records Nancy April (ca. 1801–1829), Canadian artist Nancy Aptanik (born 1959), Canadian Inuk artist Nancy Arana-Daniel, Mexican computer scientist Nancy Archibald (1911–1996), Canadian fencer Nancy Argenta (born 1957), Canadian soprano singer Nancy Argentino (died 1983), American murder victim Nancy Argenziano (born 1955), American politician Nancy Arlen (1942–2006), American sculptor and musician Nancy Armstrong (born 1938), American scholar, critic, and professor of English Nancy Ascher, American surgeon Nancy Asire (1945–2021), American fantasy- and science fiction author Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor (1879–1954), American-born British politician Nancy Atakan (born 1946), Turkish visual artist Nancy Atherton, American writer and author Nancy Atiez (1957–2016), Cuban basketball player Nancy Atkinson (1910–1999), Australian bacteriologist Nancy Atlas (born 1949), American district judge Nancy Augustyniak Goffi (born 1979), American professional soccer player Nancy Austin (born c. 1949), American writer and business consultant Nancy Avesyan (born 1990), American-born Armenian footballer Nancy Azara (1939–2024), American sculptor Nancy B. Firestone (1951–2022), American senior judge Nancy B. Jackson (1956–2022), American chemist Nancy B. Moody, American nurse Nancy B. Olson (1936–2018), American librarian and educator Nancy B. Pettit (born 1953), American diplomat Nancy B. Reich (1924–2019), American musicologist Nancy Bailey (1863–1913), English indexer and pioneer Nancy Baker, several people Nancy Balfour (1911–1997), English arts administrator and journalist Nancy Ballance, American politician Nancy Banks-Smith, British television and radio critic Nancy Barbato (1917–2018), American wife of singer and actor Frank Sinatra Nancy Barnes (born 1961), American journalist and newspaper editor Nancy Baron, American rock singer Nancy Barrett (born 1941), American actress Nancy Barr Mavity (1890–1959), American crime mystery author Nancy Barry, American banker Nancy Barto, American politician Nancy Bates, several people Nancy Batson Crews (1920–2001), American politician Nancy Bauer (born 1934), Canadian writer and editor Nancy Bauer (philosopher), American philosopher Nancy Baxter, Canadian surgeon and professor Nancy Bayley (1899–1994), American psychologist Nancy Baym (born 1965), American scholar, scientist, writer, mass media theorist, and professor Nancy Bea (1936–2025), American stadium organist for MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers Nancy Beals (born 1938), American politician Nancy Beaton (1909–1999), English socialite Nancy Beatty, Canadian stage-, film-, and television actress Nancy Beckage (1950–2012), American entomologist Nancy Beiman, American-Canadian director, character designer, teacher, and animator Nancy Bélanger (born 1978), Canadian curler Nancy Bell (1924–1989), Canadian politician Nancy Bell (author) (1844–1933), British translator and author of partial Belgian descent Nancy Bell-Johnstone (born 1959), American biathlete Nancy Benoit (1964–2007), American professional wrestling manager Nancy Bentley, American professor of English, journal editor, and non-fiction writer Nancy Berg (1931–2022), American model and actress Nancy Berliner (born 1954), American hematologist Nancy Bermeo, American political scientist, non-fiction writer, and researcher Nancy Bernkopf Tucker (1948–2012), American diplomat, writer, and diplomatic historian Nancy Bernstein (1960–2015), American visual effects producer Nancy Berry, American politician Nancy Berryhill, American government official Nancy Bertler, German Antarctic researcher and professor Nancy Binay (born 1973), Filipina politician Nancy Birdsall (born 1946), American economist Nancy Bird Walton (1915–2009), Australian pioneering aviator Nancy Birtwhistle, English contestant on The Great British Bake Off Nancy Bishop (born 1966), American casting director Nancy Blachman (born 1956), American educator Nancy Blanche Jenison (1876–1960), American physician Nancy Bocanegra (born 1955), American convicted kidnapper Nancy Boettger (born 1943), American politician Nancy Bogen (born 1932), American author-scholar, mixed media producer, and digital artist Nancy Boggess (1925–2019), American astrophysicist Nancy Bolton (1913 – 2008), Australian artist and teacher Nancye Wynne Bolton (1916–2001), Australian tennis player Nancy Bond (born 1945), American author of children's literature Nancy Bonini (born 1959), American neuroscientist and geneticist Nancy Bonvillain (born 1945), American professor Nancy Borgenicht (born 1942), American film- and television actress Nancy Borlase (1914–2006), New Zealand-born Australian artist, art critic, and commentator Nancy Borowick (born 1985), American artist, photographer, and author Nancy Borwick (1935–2013), Australian athlete Nancy Bowen, American visual artist Nancy Boyd, several people Nancy Boyda (born 1955), American chemist and politician Nancy Brataas (1928–2014), American politician and consultant Nancy Brickhouse (born 1960), American academic Nancy Brilli (born 1964), Italian film-, television-, and stage actress Nancy Brinker (born 1946), American ambassador, activist, politician, and businesswoman Nancy Brown, several people Nancy Browne (1913–1996), New Zealand cricketer Nancy Brunning (1971–2019), New Zealand actress, director, and writer Nancy Bryan Faircloth (1930–2010), American heiress and philanthropist Nancy Brysson Morrison (1903–1986), Scottish writer Nancy Buchanan (born 1946), American artist Nancy Buckingham (1924–2022), British writer Nancy Buffington (1939–2021), American politician Nancy Buirski (1945–2023), American filmmaker, producer, and photographer Nancy Burley (1930–2013), Australian figure skater Nancy Burne (1907–1954), English stage- and film actress Nancy Burson (born 1948), American artist Nancy Butler Songer, American educational theorist Nancy Buttfield (1912–2005), Australian politician Nancy Byrd Turner (1880–1971), American poet, editor, and lecturer Nancy C. Jordan, American educator Nancy C. Kranich, American librarian Nancy C. Kula (born 1971), Zambian linguist Nancy C. Maryboy, Native American scientist Nancy C. Unger, American historian, professor, and author Nancy Cadogan (born 1979), British figurative painter Nancy Caffyn (1934–2010), American politician Nancy Caldwell, multiple people Nancy Calef, American contemporary figurative painter, illustrator, author, speaker, singer, and songwriter Nancy Calhoun (born 1944), American politician Nancy Cameron, American 1974 Playboy model Nancy Campbell (born 1978), British poet, non-fiction writer, and publisher of artist's books Nancy Cantor (born 1952), American academic administrator Nancy Cappello (1952–2018), American breast cancer activist Nancy Cárdenas (1934–1994), Mexican actress, poet, writer, and feminist Nancy Carell (born 1966), American comedian, actress, and writer Nancy Carline (1909–2004), British artist Nancy Carlson, American politician Nancy Carman (born 1950), American ceramist Nancy Carnevale, American professor of history Nancy Carole Tyler (1939–1965), American secretary Nancy Caroline (1944–2002), American physician and writer Nancy Carpenter, American illustrator of children's picture books Nancy Carrasco, Mexican professor and physiologist Nancy Carrillo (born 1986), Cuban volleyball player Nancy Carriuolo, American college director Nancy Carroll (American actress) (1903–1965), American actress Nancy Carroll (British actress) (born 1974), British actress Nancy Cartonio (born 1977), American folk musician, songwriter, and music producer Nancy Cartwright (born 1957), American actress Nancy Cartwright (philosopher) (born 1944), American philosopher of science, and professor Nancy Casallas (born 1981), Colombian cyclist Nancy Cassis (born 1944), American politician Nancy Castiglione (born 1981), Canadian actress, model, and singer