Definition of "Anne"

Immortal God, that savedest Susanne / From false blame; and thou merciful maid, / Mary I mean, the daughter to Saint Anne, /Before whose child the angels sing Osanne,

1380s-1390s, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales: The Man of Law's Prologue and Tale

"What do you think they are going to name the baby? Anne; after her and her mamma. So very ugly a name!""I don't think so," said Mr Carlyle. "It is simple and unpretending. I like it much. Look at the long, pretentious names in our family - Archibald! Cornelia! And yours, too - Barbara! What a mouthful they all are!"

1860, Mrs Henry Wood (Ellen Wood), East Lynne, Kessinger Publishing, published 2004, page 29

"But if you call me Anne please call me Anne spelled with an e.""What difference does it make how it's spelled?" asked Marilla with another rusty smile as she picked up the teapot."Oh, it makes such a difference. It looks so much nicer. When you hear a name pronounced can't you always see it in your mind, just as if it was printed out? I can, and A-n-n looks dreadful, but A-n-n-e looks so much more distinguished."

1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of the Green Gables