Today, we’re taking a close look at a classic yet underused beauty...Annalise! One of my readers requested a profile of Annalise, and I love to explore readers’ suggestions, especially those as gorgeous as this one.
What’s the appeal?
Well, for one, Annalise shares the timeless beauty of Elizabeth and Catherine but has kept it much more undercover in terms of popularity. She also has desirable meaning and deep roots. Plus, at #429 out of the top 1000 baby names, Annalise squeaks by into the sweet spot spectrum, which are names that are familiar but not popular. Many parents look for sweet spot names because they are recognizable but not widely used, so that alone scores Annalise major points with parents.
Not only is Annalise the perfect amount of popular, she also has roots in Germany, a combo of the German names Anna and Lise or Lies. Although combination names like Jadalee and Zayden are often modern inventions, Annalise actually has a long history of use. This traditional combination name also has the meaning ‘grace’ which can be interpreted religiously or characteristically by parents. Either way, Annalise’s meaning is undoubtedly positive, contributing to her long history of being a name.
The bright side of a combination name is the abundance of nicknames. Annie, Anna, Lisa, Lissie, or Anne, Annalise is nickname-rich, but similarly to Amelia or Caroline, can also stand on her own. Annalise as a full name is soft, feminine, and flowing, and therefore works well as a middle name, too!
Cool! So why aren’t more people using it?
There are a couple reasons. While Annalise is the most popular spelling of this traditional stunner, Anneliese, Analiese, Annelise, and Analise are all variant spellings, making it more likely that an Annalise would have to repeatedly correct people on the spelling of her name.
Another factor that might be steering parents away from Annalise is her ties to the lead character in ABCs “How to Get Away With Murder.” Although actress Viola Davis did receive an Emmy for playing the role of Annalise Keating, a lawyer covering up a murder isn’t exactly the image that parents want their child’s name conveying. One other namesake that may weigh Annalise down in her pursuit for popularity is Anne Frank, who’s given name was actually Analies. Despite that being a little known fact, the heartbreaking thought of the young girl killed in the Holocaust may have cast a shadow on her name for parents.
Predictions for Annalise:
Annalise peaked in popularity in 2017, at around the #300 mark. She has since dropped back down to the 400s, and my guess is that she will continue to lose traction. However, names that aren’t widely used, yet are traditional and feminine, are in high demand at the moment, and Annalise is the perfect example. Whether she picks back up or falls further down the charts, Annalise is still a gorgeous option for many.
Sincerely,
~Delphina Moon
Do you like the name Annalise? Why or why not? Let me know below!
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