Agnes

Pronunciation: [ AGN-ihs ]

Girl Name #1,064 Most Popular Hidden Gem 2 Syllables

Medieval saint's name with timeless purity and growing chic

English French Scandinavian Polish Spanish Scottish

Classic Vintage Literary Traditional

Meaning & Origin

"pure, holy, chaste"

Origin: Greek

Language: English

"sacred, inviolate"

Origin: Greek

Language: Greek

Things to Know About This Name

Associated with Agnes from the 'Despicable Me' animated films — widely seen as adorable and endearing

The Story of Agnes

Agnes comes from the ancient Greek name Hagne (Ἁγνή), derived from 'hagnos' meaning pure, holy, or chaste. The name became widespread in the Christian world after Saint Agnes of Rome — a 13-year-old martyr executed around 304 AD for refusing to marry the son of a Roman prefect, choosing death over denying her Christian faith. Her feast day on January 21st inspired the medieval tradition of girls performing rituals on 'St. Agnes Eve' to glimpse their future husbands, a custom immortalized in John Keats's sublime 1819 poem 'The Eve of St. Agnes.'

Agnes was enormously popular throughout medieval Europe and remained a top name into the early 20th century before falling out of fashion mid-century. It is now experiencing a strong revival driven by the vintage name trend, particularly in Scandinavia and the UK, and increasingly in the US where 'grandma chic' names like Hazel, Mabel, and Edith are surging.

Saint Agnes is one of the most venerated saints in Roman Catholicism, depicted in art carrying a lamb (a visual pun on 'agnus,' the Latin for lamb). Her name has been borne by queens, saints, and literary figures across Europe. In Sweden, Agnetha Fältskog of ABBA brought the name to global pop culture consciousness in the 1970s and 80s.

Fun Facts

Saint Agnes's symbol is a lamb because 'agnus' (lamb) sounds like 'Agnes' in Latin — one of the most famous visual puns in Christian art
John Keats wrote 'The Eve of St. Agnes' in January 1819, cementing the name in Romantic literary canon
Agnes was a top-10 name in medieval England alongside Alice and Joan, and again became fashionable in Victorian times

Agnes in Other Languages

French Agnès

German Agnes

Polish Agnieszka

Italian Agnese

Spanish Inés

Swedish Agnetha

Famous People Named Agnes

Agnetha Fältskog

Musician

1950

Swedish pop star and co-founder of ABBA, one of the best-selling music acts in history

Agnes Varda

Artist

1928

Belgian-French filmmaker and pioneer of the French New Wave; her documentary 'Faces Places' received an Academy Award no...

Belgian-French filmmaker and pioneer of the French New Wave; her documentary 'Faces Places' received an Academy Award nomination at age 89

Saint Agnes of Rome

Religious

291

Christian martyr and patron saint of girls, executed at approximately 13 years old; one of the seven women commemorated ...

Christian martyr and patron saint of girls, executed at approximately 13 years old; one of the seven women commemorated by name in the Roman Canon of the Mass

Agnes (Despicable Me) Fictional

Other

Beloved fictional child character in the 'Despicable Me' animated franchise, famous for her love of unicorns and being o...

Beloved fictional child character in the 'Despicable Me' animated franchise, famous for her love of unicorns and being one of cinema's most endearing children

Quick Facts

Gender: Girl
Syllables: 2
Popularity Rank: #1,064
Total SSA Count: 233
Cultural Origins: English French Scandinavian Polish Spanish Scottish
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: High

Common Nicknames

Aggie Nessie Nez

Pairs Well With

Agnes Rose Agnes Claire Agnes Mary Agnes Jane Agnes Louise Agnes Beatrice

Sibling Names

Ruth Vera Mabel Edmund Arthur Cecily

Also a Boy Name

Agnes is also used as a boy name, ranked #19837.

View Agnes as a boy name →

Similar Names

Inez Tabitha Ines Agastya

Playground Safety

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Frequently Asked Questions About Agnes

What does the name Agnes mean?

"pure, holy, chaste" (from Greek). "sacred, inviolate" (from Greek). Agnes comes from the ancient Greek name Hagne (Ἁγνή), derived from 'hagnos' meaning pure, holy, or chaste. The name became widespread in the Christian world after Saint Agnes of Rome — a 13-year-old martyr executed around 304 AD for refusing to marry the son of a Roman prefect, choosing death over denying her Christian faith. Her feast day on January 21st inspired the medieval tradition of girls performing rituals on 'St. Agnes Eve' to glimpse their future husbands, a custom immortalized in John Keats's sublime 1819 poem 'The Eve of St. Agnes.'

What is the origin of the name Agnes?

Agnes has Greek, English, French, Scandinavian, Polish, Spanish, and Scottish origins. In Greek, it means "pure, holy, chaste". In Greek, it means "sacred, inviolate".

Is Agnes a boy or girl name?

Agnes is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #1064. As a boy name, it is ranked #19837. Agnes is more commonly used as a girl name.

How do you pronounce Agnes?

Agnes is pronounced AGN-ihs.

How popular is the name Agnes?

Agnes is currently ranked #1064 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Agnes?

Common nicknames for Agnes include Aggie, Nessie, and Nez.

What are good middle names for Agnes?

Popular middle name pairings include Agnes Rose, Agnes Claire, Agnes Mary, Agnes Jane, Agnes Louise, and Agnes Beatrice.

What are good sibling names for Agnes?

Names that pair well with Agnes as siblings include Ruth, Vera, Mabel, Edmund, Arthur, and Cecily.

How many syllables does Agnes have?

Agnes has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Agnes a common or rare name?

Agnes is an uncommon name, ranked #1064 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.

About the Name Agnes

Agnes is a girl name with English, French, Scandinavian, Polish, Spanish, and Scottish origins . The name means "pure, holy, chaste" in Greek .

Is Agnes a boy or girl name? Agnes is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #1,064 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #19,837. Agnes is more commonly used as a girl name.

Agnes is currently ranked #1,064 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

The name Agnes has 2 syllables and is pronounced AGN-ihs, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Agnes include Aggie, Nessie, and Nez. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.