Given name & surname

Anke

“he (God) has favoured me (i.e. with a child)”·“a woman graced with God's favor”

In Low German use, Anke is an affectionate form of Anne. One Hebrew interpretation is “he (God) has favoured me (i.e. with a child).” In German use, Anke is a diminutive of Anna. One Latin interpretation is “a woman graced with God's favor.”

Meaning & origin

What it means

In Low German use, Anke is an affectionate form of Anne. One Hebrew interpretation is “he (God) has favoured me (i.e. with a child).” In German use, Anke is a diminutive of Anna. One Latin interpretation is “a woman graced with God's favor.”

Explained through its name family

Where it comes from

In Low German use, Anke is an affectionate form of Anne. An origin associated with Anne is Hebrew.

Explained through its name family

How it developed

In Low German use, Anke is used as an affectionate form of Anne.

The story

Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1969. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.

From dated birth records

Anke through the years

Babies since 1880
5
0 boys · 5 girls
Most popular year
1969
5 babies
2025
0
Outside the ranked list
2021–25 vs 2016–20
—
Too few births to compare
0123198020002025Highest share 19690.0
Anke in U.S. Social Security birth records, 1969–2025, per million girls born. Years with fewer than five births for a sex are not published and appear as zero. Use the arrow keys to step through years.

By the numbers

The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 1969. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 765 as a first name in 2020; 101 as a surname in 2010.

From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.

Anke’s family of names

Anke is a diminutive of Anna. Anke has a conventional equivalent in the Czech form Hana. Anke has a related form in Anna.

Walk Anke’s family in the name graph

AnkeAnnaAnneHanaAnkaAnikeAnkieAnki

Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.

Hover or tab through the constellation to see how each name is related. Bigger dots are names more people in the U.S. share.

Around the world

Anke has relatives in 3 languages.

2 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.

Each dot marks where a language is rooted, not where people with the name live today. Bigger dots hold more names. Language locations from Glottolog (CC BY 4.0); map from Natural Earth.

Nicknames & forms 2

Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.

Across languages 5

Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.

Similar names

If you love Anke, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.

English · Virtue

Annmarie

“filled with bitter grace”

34RareEasing

>99% girls

Virtue

Annemarie

“filled with bitter grace”

33RareEasing

>99% girls

 

Amie

“beloved” · “dearly loved”

26RareCooling

>99% girls

 

Angelia

“messenger” · “a heavenly messenger; an angel”

26RareCooling

>99% girls

 

Lainie

“one who takes the narrow path”

32RareRising

>99% girls

 

Angelique

“messenger” · “a heavenly messenger; an angel”

47UncommonEasing

>99% girls

 

Anissa

“one who is affectionate and friendly”

32RareEasing

>99% girls

Nature

Marnie

“woman of the sea”

38RareRising fast

>99% girls

Sibling ideas

Names that share Anke’s feel without repeating its first letter or rhyming with it.

A sister for Anke