The nameAnna
Anna is a girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace". Used in almost every European language, it was a top 10 name in the United States in the late 19th century.
- Girl's name
- Hebrew
- Feast day
Meaning
Anna comes from the Hebrew Channah, "grace, favour". Hannah and Anne are forms of the same name.
Origin
Hebrew, through Greek and Latin. Christian tradition gives this name to the mother of the Virgin Mary, Saint Anne.
History
Anna Karenina, Tolstoy's heroine, and Anna Pavlova, the ballerina, made the name famous. It reached second place in the United States in the 1880s and is still a classic in Scandinavia, Germany and Italy. Anna of Frozen (2013) gave it a new audience.
Anna in other languages
Anna is spelled the same in Italian, German, Polish, Russian and the Nordic countries. It is Anne in French and English, Ana in Spanish and Portuguese, and Hannah in English and Hebrew.
Nicknames for Anna
The most common nicknames for Anna: Annie and Nan.
Did you know?
- Anna Karenina opens with a famous line: "All happy families are alike".
- The pavlova dessert was named in honour of the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova.
- Anna Wintour has been editor in chief of American Vogue since 1988.
Famous people named Anna
- Anna Pavlova, ballerina
- Anna Freud, psychoanalyst
- Anna Wintour, editor
- Anna Karenina, Tolstoy's heroine
Popularity of the name Anna
Anna in the United States
Anna was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 124,290 births over the decade, 14% of all recorded babies named Anna. Half of all babies named Anna in the United States were born before 1939, although it is popular again today. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 3,037 births a year on average, against 4,519 in the five years before.
Anna in the United Kingdom
Anna was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 15,596 births over the decade, 44% of all recorded babies named Anna. Half of all babies named Anna in the United Kingdom were born before 2007, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 600 births a year on average, against 950 in the five years before.
Anna in Ireland
Anna in France
Anna in Belgium
Anna in Switzerland
Anna in Austria
Anna in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Anna
Names from the same generation as Anna, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Anna? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Anna with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Anna side by side with the name of your choice.
Anna in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Anna mean?
Anna comes from the Hebrew Channah, "grace, favour". Hannah and Anne are forms of the same name.
What is the origin of the name Anna?
Hebrew, through Greek and Latin. Christian tradition gives this name to the mother of the Virgin Mary, Saint Anne.
Is Anna a girl's or a boy's name?
Anna is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Anna?
In 2024, Anna was the 94th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 2,700 births.
What are the variants of the name Anna?
Variants and related names of Anna include Aina, Anais, Anica, Anika, Anita, Annabelle, Anne and Anneke.
What are good sibling names for Anna?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Mary, Maria, Sara and Madeline for a sister, Jordan, Jonathan, Nathaniel and Juan for a brother.
What are common nicknames for Anna?
The most common nicknames for Anna are Annie and Nan.
Who are famous people named Anna?
Anna Pavlova, ballerina; Anna Freud, psychoanalyst; Anna Wintour, editor; Anna Karenina, Tolstoy's heroine.