Anise is an English feminine given name derived from the common name of the flowering plant Pimpinella anisum, also called aniseed. The name is a direct application of the plant's aromatic seeds used in cooking, confectionery, and beverages. The plant itself has been cultivated since ancient times across the Mediterranean and Southwest Asia. The word "anise" traces back through Old French from Latin anīsum or anēthum, ultimately from Greek ἄνηθον (ánēthon) referring to dill. This etymology reflects the herb’s long culinary and herbal history, influencing cultures from classical antiquity to modern Europe. While not among the most common English names, Anise fits a broader pattern of botanical names adopted in the English-speaking world during the Victorian and later periods — names like Rose, Lily, and Iris. As a nature-inspired choice, Anise carries an association with sweetness, spice, and distinctly aromatic fragrance, given the seed's popular use to flavor absinthe, ouzo, and various liqueurs. The soft phonetic quality and clear imagery make it an appealing, if unconventional, option among word names. Like many botanical names borrowed taxonomically directly from plant names — compare Clove or Fennel (rare ones) — Anise leans more on its fragrance characteristic element than on long custom as a personal name. In modern baby naming it might fill a quasi-genderless place with its pleasant phonetic syllables, making it highly evocative and easy to pair with other botanical or word-inspired names. Its plausible appellation chain in English suggests cross-forces from gardening English through herb garden into girl–nature naming segments, placing it among now mildly obscure jewel-herb name revivals. Meaning: The herb anise/aniseed, aromatic sweet Origin: English word name; ultimate Greek-Latin botanical root Type: Feminine given name Usage regions: Primarily English-speaking countries