The story behind Hanna
Variant spelling of Hannah or romanization of Hebrew חַנָּה (Ḥanâ), chiefly for the mother of Samuel, from חַנָּה (ḥanâ, “grace, gracious, graced with child”). As an Oklahoman town, named for Hanna Bullett, one of the initial settlers. As a Polish village, named for the queen Anna Jagiellon.
Other language forms and explanations (5)
Dutch entry
Ultimately from Biblical Hebrew חַנָּה.
Finnish entry
From Biblical Hebrew חַנָּה (ḥannâ, literally “grace”).
Hungarian entry
Apheretic form of Johanna. Alternatively, from Hebrew חַנָּה, compare English Hannah.
Polish entry
Learned borrowing from Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Hebrew חַנָּה (ḥannâ). Doublet of Anna.
Portuguese entry
Unadapted borrowing from English Hannah, from Hebrew חַנָּה (ḥannâ). Doublet of Ana and Ane.
Pronunciation
US English (ARPAbet): HH AE1 N AH0
Regional pronunciation variants
- Dutch: /ˈɦɑ.naː/
- Finnish: /ˈhɑnːɑ/
- Finnish: [ˈhɑ̝nːɑ̝]
- Hungarian: [ˈhɒnːɒ]
- Polish: /ˈxan.na/
- Portuguese; Brazil: /ˈʁɐ̃.nɐ/
- Portuguese; Brazil: [ˈhɐ̃.nɐ]
- Portuguese; Rio-de-Janeiro: /ˈʁɐ̃.nɐ/
- Portuguese; Rio-de-Janeiro: [ˈχɐ̃.nɐ]
- Portuguese; Portugal: /ˈɐ.nɐ/
- Portuguese; Northern; Portugal: /ˈa.nɐ/
This is a US English dictionary reading of the spelling; personal pronunciations may differ. Digits mark stress: 0 is unstressed, 1 is primary, 2 is secondary. Pronunciation source and notation.
Popularity
Hanna ranked #512 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Hanna
Hana
Borrowed from Hebrew חנה.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Hilda
Short form of Germanic names beginning or ending in hild (“battle”). From Swedish Hilda. Borrowed from German Hilda. Borrowed from English Hilda.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Hosea
From Latin Hōsēās, from Ancient Greek Ὡσηέ (Hōsēé), from Biblical Hebrew הוֹשֵׁעַ (hōšḗaʿ, “Hosea”), from the masculine singular imperative of הוֹשִׁיעַ (hoshía', “to save”).…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
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
Aisaya
Borrowed from English Isaiah.
- 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
Middle Names for Hanna
Æmile
From Latin Aemilius. See also French Émile.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Bairbre
From Latin Barbara (name of a legendary saint), feminine form of barbarus, from Ancient Greek βάρβαρος (bárbaros, “strange, foreign”). Cognate with Scottish Gaelic Barabal and…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Balbina
Learned borrowing from Latin Balbina.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Hanna
Aamos
Ultimately from Biblical Hebrew עמוס (Amos).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aapeli
Vernacular form of the biblical Abel or Aabel, from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aarão
From Latin Aarōn, from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן ('aharón). Doublet of Faro.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length