NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Nansi

A feminine name originating from Spanish variations of the name "Anne".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Nansi is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nansi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #885, with 41 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 44 births.

This profile covers 466 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 2000 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 93% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 464 living people in the UK are called Nansi. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Nansi ranked #885 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 41 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 44 girls were registered as Nansi.
  • About 464 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nansi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#885

2024

Births in 2024

41

Latest year

Peak year

2021

44 births

Estimated living

464

2026

Meaning

What does Nansi mean?

The name Nansi is believed to have originated from the Indonesian language, where it is a feminine form of the name Nanang. The name Nanang is derived from the Sanskrit word "Ananda," which means "bliss" or "joy." This suggests that the name Nansi may have been used to represent a joyful or blissful girl or woman.

The earliest recorded use of the name Nansi can be traced back to the 16th century in the Indonesian archipelago, particularly in the regions of Java and Sumatra. During this period, the name was prevalent among the local population, although it was not widely known beyond the region.

One of the earliest historical references to the name Nansi can be found in the Javanese epic poem "Serat Centhini," written in the early 19th century. The poem mentions a character named Nansi, who is described as a beautiful and virtuous woman.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Nansi. One of the earliest recorded was Nansi Bagus Kusuma (1850-1920), a Javanese princess and prominent figure in the struggle for Indonesian independence against Dutch colonial rule.

Another notable Nansi was Nansi Groeneveldt (1915-2005), a Dutch-Indonesian writer and activist who fought for the rights of women and indigenous people in Indonesia during the 20th century.

In the field of arts and literature, Nansi Ayu Utami (born 1968) is a renowned Indonesian novelist and poet, known for her works exploring feminist themes and social issues.

The name Nansi also gained recognition in the world of sports with Nansi Pangaribuan (born 1983), an Indonesian badminton player who won multiple international tournaments and represented her country at the Olympics.

Lastly, Nansi Dhata (born 1992) is a contemporary Indonesian singer and songwriter who has achieved success in the Indonesian music industry, known for her unique vocal style and socially conscious lyrics.

While the name Nansi is not as common globally as some other names, it holds a significant cultural and historical significance in Indonesia, where it has been used for centuries and continues to be a popular choice for baby names.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Nansi over time

The chart below shows babies named Nansi registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Nansi, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 41 births in 2024, compared with 44 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Nansi
011223344200020122024

Decades

Nansi by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nansi was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #867 205 5
2010s #1707 218 10
2000s #3241 43 7

Notable bearers

Famous people named Nansi

  • Nansi Williams

    British lunchlady

    1922-1966

  • Nansi Rhys Adams

    actor; student; singer

    Welsh actor and singer

Related

Names similar to Nansi

FAQ

Nansi: questions and answers

How popular is the name Nansi in the UK right now?

In 2024, Nansi was ranked #885 for girls in England and Wales, with 41 births registered.

When was Nansi most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 44 babies registered as Nansi in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nansi?

A feminine name originating from Spanish variations of the name "Anne".

How many people are called Nansi in the UK?

A total of 466 babies have been registered as Nansi across the 22 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.