The story behind Anna
From Late Latin Anna both directly and via numerous other languages, chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate in reference to Anne the Prophetess, from Koine Greek Ἄννα (Ánna) in the New Testament, from Hebrew חַנָּה (Ḥannâ, “Hannah”), from חַנָּה (ḥannâ, “grace, gracious, graced with child”). As a city in Illinois, named for Anna Davie, wife of one of the initial settlers. Doublet of Ann, Anne, Ana, and Hannah.
Other language forms and explanations (10)
Dutch entry
From Middle Dutch Anna, from Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Hebrew חַנָּה (Ḥannâ).
Finnish entry
From Vulgate Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Biblical Hebrew חַנָּה (ḥannâ, “grace, gracious”), commonly in reference to Saint Anne.
German entry
From Latin Anna, which see.
Italian entry
From Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Biblical Hebrew חַנָּה (Ḥannâ).
Polish entry
Learned borrowing from Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Hebrew חַנָּה (ḥannâ). Doublet of Hanna.
Swedish entry
First recorded as a given name in Sweden in 1291. Inherited from Old Swedish Anna, from Vulgar Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), equal to the Hebrew female name חַנָּה (ḥannâ) of Old Testament, meaning "grace, gracious". Cognate with English Ann.
Welsh entry
From Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Biblical Hebrew חַנָּה (ḥannâ, literally “grace, gracious”).
Icelandic entry
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Hebrew חַנָּה (ḥannâ).
Scottish Gaelic entry
From Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Biblical Hebrew חַנָּה (ḥannâ, literally “grace, gracious”).
Latin entry
From Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Biblical Hebrew חַנָּה (Ḥannâ).
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈænə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- æ-raising: [ˈeənə]
- Dutch: /ˈɑ.naː/
- Finnish: /ˈɑnːɑ/
- Finnish: [ˈɑ̝nːɑ̝]
- German: /ˈana/
- German: [ˈʔa.na]
- Italian: /ˈan.na/
- Polish: /ˈan.na/
- Swedish: /²ana/
- Welsh: /ˈana/
- Icelandic: [ˈan(ː)a]
- Scottish Gaelic: /ˈan̪ˠa/
- Scottish Gaelic: /ˈan̪ˠə/
- Latin; Classical-Latin: [ˈan.na]
- Latin: [ˈan.na]
- Latin; Classical-Latin: [ˈan.naː]
Popularity
Anna ranked #107 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Anna
Adda
a male given name from Hebrew אדום (“red”), equivalent to English Adam
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Alma
Usually explained as Latin alma (“nourishing, kind”). It has also been used as a short form of Germanic compound names beginning with the element Amal-, as in Amelia. From…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Althea
From Althaia or Althaea of Greek mythology, from Ancient Greek Ἀλθαία (Althaía). Borrowed from English Althea.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aná
a female given name from Ancient Greek [in turn from Biblical Hebrew], equivalent to English Anah.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Á
- same syllable count
- similar length
Andrea
Latinate feminine form of Andreas and Andrew. Borrowed from Italian Andrea. From Latin Andreās, from Ancient Greek Ἀνδρέας (Andréas). Due to the loss of the final S, the…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Anndra
From Latin Andreās, from Ancient Greek Ἀνδρέᾱς (Andréās).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Anna
Dan
From Hebrew דָּן (Dan). Dimunitve of Danjell (“Daniel”), Daniel (“id”) and Daniell (“id”). From Latin Daniēl (from Ancient Greek Δᾱνῑήλ (Dānīḗl), from Hebrew דָּנִיֵּאל).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Eve
From Middle English Eve, Eue, from Old English Ēua, Ēfe, from Latin Eva, from Ancient Greek Εὔα (Eúa), from Biblical Hebrew חַוָּה (ḥawwā).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Gad
Borrowed from Biblical Hebrew גָּד (gad), a son of Jacob.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Anna
Boaz
From Biblical Hebrew בֹּעַז (Bṓʿaz).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Cain
From Hebrew קַיִן (Káyin, “craftsman”), present since Old English.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Cato
From Latin Cato. A cognomen made particularly famous by Cato the Elder and Younger, members of the gens Porcia.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection