Anna Name Meaning, Origin and Pronunciation
Anna is a Hebrew-origin girl’s name meaning “grace” or “favor,” a direct variant of Hannah passed through Greek and Latin into most European languages.
| Meaning | grace, favor |
| Origin | Hebrew (via Hannah), through Greek and Latin |
| Pronunciation | AH-nah |
| Gender | Girl |
| Related forms | Hannah, Ann, Anne, Anya (Slavic form) |
Origin and history
Anna is the Greek and Latin form of the Hebrew name Hannah, which shares the same root meaning grace or favor. Because it passed through so many European languages, Anna became one of the most widely used names across cultures, appearing as Anne in French and English, Anya in Russian, and Ana in Spanish and Portuguese, all ultimately sharing the same Hebrew origin.
Is Anna a boy or girl name?
Anna is used almost exclusively as a girl’s name.
Names similar to Anna
- Hannah (the Hebrew original Anna derives from)
- Anne (the French/English form)
- Anya (the Russian form)
- Ana (the Spanish/Portuguese form)
Frequently asked questions
Is Anna the same name as Hannah?
Yes, they share the same Hebrew root, with Anna developing as the Greek and Latin form that spread across European languages.
Why does Anna have so many international variants?
Because it passed through Greek and Latin into nearly every major European language, each developing its own local form while keeping the same underlying Hebrew meaning.
Related reading
Related culture pages: Biblical girl names, Hebrew and Jewish names.