Polish naming trends: Anna remains most popular while others decline

Trends in Polish female names show a divide between timeless classics and names that have fallen out of fashion due to generational associations.

Anna remains the most common female name in Poland, held by over 1.06 million women according to PESEL register data from early 2025. Derived from the Hebrew word for 'grace', the name has maintained its prominence in the country since the 13th century despite a recent decline in its frequency among newborns.

In contrast, names like Jolanta, which were highly popular during the PRL era (1960s–1980s), have seen a significant drop in popularity. While Jolanta has Greek roots meaning 'violet flower', its heavy association with a specific historical generation has led modern parents to avoid it in favor of returning to pre-war or traditional names like Antonina, Franciszek, or Maria.