Agnes is a female given name, which derives from the Greek name Ἁγνὴ hagnē, meaning pure or holy. The name passed to Italian as Agnese, to Portuguese as Inês, and to Spanish, as Inés. It was the name of a popular Christian saint, Saint Agnes of Rome, a fact which encouraged the wide use of the name. Agnes was the third most popular name for women in the English speaking world for more than 400 years.