← All names

Annette

Girl name · 300 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Annette: 300 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 35 births in 1975.

Annette is the French diminutive of Anne, itself derived from the Hebrew Hannah, meaning “grace” or “favoured.” It became widely used across Europe and the English-speaking world in the 19th and 20th centuries. Famous bearers include American actress Annette Bening, known for roles in *The American President* and *American Beauty*, and the beloved singer and actress Annette Funicello, a former Mouseketeer. In Scotland, the name was particularly popular in the 1960s and 1970s. While no major places are directly named after an Annette, the root *Hannah* appears in many place names worldwide, such as Ann Arbor or Santa Ana. Variants include Annetta and Annette’s simpler cousin, Anne – a classic that has remained consistently in use across generations.