Annette

Annette is, as all the other names sites say, a French "pet form" of Ann(e). Famous Annettes have included Annette Funicello, and Annette Bening. Although Annette is still currently in the top 1000 names for baby girls, its in the bottom 500, meaning, basically that it is in use, but not over-used. It was a much more popular name thoughout most of the 1900's, and in the 1960's was a top 100 name. This is probably why it is not so much in use today: baby girls born today might be the daughter of an Annette, or the granddaughter of an Annette, or perhaps the neice of an Annette. So my best guess would be that in most cases today that the name is given, it is as a middle name, maybe to honor the elder relative with the name. As a middle name, Annette is wonderful. Paired with either a one-syllable or three-syllable first name, it is musical. (It's not bad with a two-syllable first name, but the rule of thumb--which can, and should, be often broken-- is to give names of varying syllables--they usually just flow better. Two syllable names can follow other two syllable names more easily than one syllable names can follow one another though-- example, Katie Annette flows better than Lynn Jean. See?) Annette is definitely a name to keep in mind when naming a baby girl, just because it is such a great middle name, and because it does come with a little bit of versatility. A girl named Annette can also reasonbly claim to be Ann or Anne or Annie, or if she's feeling VERY retro she can be Nettie.