Girl
Hebrew
2 syllables
Anna
AN-ah
/ˈænə/
"The gracious one" — a name of biblical depth, timeless simplicity, and enduring love
Anna is one of the most enduring names in human history, the Latin and Greek form of the Hebrew Hannah, meaning 'grace' or 'favor.' Used across virtually every culture and language on earth, Anna has never fallen out of fashion in over two thousand years of recorded use. Its palindromic structure — the same forwards and backwards — lends it a pleasing visual symmetry that mirrors its balanced, harmonious feel. From Saint Anne to Anna Karenina to Frozen's beloved princess, this two-syllable gem has adorned some of history's most iconic women.
Quick Facts
Letters4
SyllablesAn · na
GenderGirl
OriginHebrew
Root WordHannah / Channah
MeaningGrace, favor
PopularityVery Popular
Peak Year1880
Trend
→ Stable
Name DayJuly 26
Nicknames
AnnieNanAnyaAna
About the Name Anna
Anna means 'grace' or 'favor,' derived from the Hebrew name Hannah (Channah), which carries the sense of being graced by God or finding divine favor. The name passed into Greek and Latin as Anna and spread throughout the Christian world partly through devotion to Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary. Its meaning of pure, unearned grace gives it a deeply spiritual quality.
Yes, Anna appears in the New Testament. In the Gospel of Luke, Anna is an elderly prophetess who recognizes the infant Jesus as the Messiah when he is presented at the Temple in Jerusalem. The name is also connected to Saint Anne (Hannah in Hebrew), traditionally considered the mother of Mary, though she does not appear by name in the canonical Gospels.
Anna is associated with warmth, reliability, and a quietly graceful presence. People named Anna are often seen as nurturing, sincere, and deeply trustworthy — the kind of steady friend who is always there. The name carries an understated elegance that doesn't need to announce itself, much like grace itself.
Anna is one of the most consistently popular names in recorded history and across virtually every culture. In the United States it has been in the top 100 for well over a century with only minor fluctuations. It is currently in the top 60 and shows remarkable stability. In Europe, particularly Russia, Poland, and Scandinavia, it has often been the single most popular girl's name.
Anna is wonderfully versatile as a first name and pairs with almost anything. Classic choices include Anna Grace, Anna Marie, Anna Rose, Anna Louise, and Anna Elise. It also works beautifully before longer, more ornate middles like Anna Celestine or Anna Genevieve, where its simplicity provides an elegant anchor.
Anna and Hannah both derive from the same Hebrew root Channah meaning 'grace' or 'favor.' Hannah is the direct Hebrew form, while Anna is the Greek and Latin transliteration that spread through the Christian world. Hannah tends to feel slightly warmer and more old-fashioned in modern English-speaking culture, while Anna feels more international and classically restrained.
Personality of Anna
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Anna
Creativity
72%
Elegance
86%
Independence
74%
Intelligence
84%
Strength
76%
Warmth
92%
Famous People Named Anna
A
Anna Karenina
Tragic heroine of Leo Tolstoy's classic 1878 novel
A
Anna Wintour
Legendary editor-in-chief of American Vogue
A
Anna Kendrick
American actress and singer, Pitch Perfect and Up in the Air
A
Anna Pavlova
Russian prima ballerina of the early 20th century, one of the greatest of all time
A
Anne Frank
German-born Jewish diarist whose writings became a symbol of the Holocaust
Middle Names for Anna
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Anna
Anna Grace
Anna Marie
Anna Rose
Anna Louise
Anna Elise
Anna Sophia
Anna Maeve
Anna Pearl
Anna Violet
Anna Claire
Anna Belle
Anna Celeste
Names Similar to Anna
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Anna
100 BCE
Anna, mother of the Virgin Mary, appears in apocryphal Christian texts
1380
Saint Anna of Kashin canonized in Russia, spreading the name through Orthodox Christianity
1878
Tolstoy publishes Anna Karenina, cementing the name in world literature
2013
Disney's Frozen features Princess Anna, introducing the name to a new generation of children
Numerology & Symbolism of Anna
3
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
2
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Cancer
6
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Pearl White
💎
Lucky Stone
Moonstone
🌸
Lucky Flower
Lily
Anna Around the World
How Anna is written in different languages and scripts
آنا
Arabic
アンナ
Japanese
Анна
Russian
안나
Korean
安娜
Chinese
Άννα
Greek
अन्ना
Hindi
אַנָּה
Hebrew
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