Anna

Meaning: grace, favour (from Hannah) · Origin: Hebrew · Gender: usually a girl's name

Origin & history

The Greek and Latin form of Hannah, 'grace'. Saint Anne was the mother of the Virgin Mary; Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is one of literature's great heroines.

Famous people named Anna

Anna Pavlova (ballerina)
Anna Wintour (editor)

Nicknames

Annie, Ann

Variants & related names

Ana, Anne, Hannah, Anya

Anna name art

A free preview of a printable “Anna” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.

Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.

FAQ

What does the name Anna mean?

Anna means “grace, favour (from Hannah)”. It comes from Hebrew.

Is Anna a popular name?

Yes — Anna has been one of the most popular girls' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.

What are nicknames for Anna?

Annie, Ann.

What are other forms of Anna?

Ana, Anne, Hannah, Anya.

Similar names

Abigail · Naomi · Delilah · Leah · Hannah · Josephine

More: names starting with A · all girls' names

Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.