Nancy

Nancy is an English name that originated as a medieval pet form of Annis, itself a vernacular form of Agnes, ultimately derived from the Greek Hagnē, meaning pure or chaste. Through a parallel development, it also became associated with Ann and Anne, from the Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or favor, and today is more commonly perceived as a variant of those names. The name gained widespread use in the English-speaking world from the eighteenth century onward, borne by figures such as Nancy Astor, the first woman to take a seat in the British House of Commons. Related forms include Nan, Nanette, and Nance.