In 2016 there were at least 500
names better, according to one poll
but in 1962, Anne’s were in fashion.
I could have been Ana, Anika, Anoushka,
somewhere else—a Marianne or Annemarie
(Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s name was Anne)
Hathaway, Boleyn, Bronte, Frank, Heche
and of course she was a saint—
307 people deemed Anne to be a good name,
Classically feminine, maturely formal, upper-class
natural, wholesomely strong, refinedly boring,
simply seriously nerdy
the e at the end makes it look finished
I wanted to be Annemarie or Marianne
tried Annie—too cute—only a few
have gotten away with that, and they were men
willing to risk the added syllable.
