Nancye
A feminine name derived from the given name Nancy, of uncertain origin.
Name Census estimates that about 399 living Americans carry the first name Nancye. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nancye today is around 75 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nancye births was 1944 (36 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nancye. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Nancye is about 75 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Nancyes were born before 1961.
People living today
399
~ 1 in 859,033 Americans
Peak year
1944
36 babies that year
Average age
75
years old
1979 SSA rank
#9,781
Tracked since 1912
Popularity
Nancye: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nancye from the 1910s through to the 1970s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 288 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1940s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nancye by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Nancye during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nancyes live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee recorded the most babies named Nancye, while North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 84 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Nancye
Nancye is a feminine given name with origins tracing back to the medieval French variant of the name Nancy, which itself is a pet form of the Old French name Annis. Annis was derived from the Hebrew name Hannah, meaning "grace" or "favor."
The name Nancye first appeared in historical records during the late Middle Ages, particularly in regions of what is now modern-day France and England. Its earliest known usage can be traced back to the 13th century, where it was occasionally found in parish records and local documents.
One of the earliest known individuals recorded with the name Nancye was Nancye de Montfort, a noblewomen who lived in Normandy, France, during the late 13th century. Another early bearer of the name was Nancye Guildford, an English woman who was born in 1492 and lived in the county of Somerset.
Throughout the centuries, the name Nancye has been borne by several notable individuals, including Nancye Fitzherbert (1548-1612), an English noblewoman and maid of honor to Queen Elizabeth I. Nancye Cartwright (1759-1828) was a British artist and portrait painter who was known for her works depicting members of the aristocracy.
In the literary realm, Nancye Pearce (1890-1964) was a Canadian author and poet who published several collections of poetry and novels during the early 20th century. Nancye Wynne (1925-2001) was an American actress and singer who appeared in various Broadway productions and television shows throughout her career.
Another notable figure was Nancye Hawke (1923-2010), an Australian politician and activist who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council and was a prominent advocate for women's rights and environmental causes.
While the name Nancye has seen occasional usage throughout history, it has remained relatively uncommon compared to its more popular variants, such as Nancy and Anne. However, its unique spelling and distinct connection to medieval French origins have contributed to its enduring presence as a feminine given name across various cultures and regions.
People
Nancye + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nancye as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Nancye: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nancye?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 399 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nancye going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 859,033 US residents.
Is Nancye a common name?
We classify Nancye as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,031 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nancye most popular?
The single biggest year for Nancye was 1944, when 36 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nancye is about 75 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nancye a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nancye in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.