Anna: Meaning, Popularity, Origin of Baby Name Anna | Girls

Anna

Pronunciation: AN-ə, AHN-ə (key)

Origin of the name Anna:

Anna is a Latinate variant of the French Anne, a cognate of the Hebrew Hannah (gracious, full of grace).

From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman. Buy the book

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US Popularity of Anna Over Time

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Comments and insights on the name Anna: | Edit

According to the baby name book "Cool Names" by Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz, Anna is considered 'cool', while Anne is 'uncool' and Annika is 'cooler'.

Personal experiences with the name Anna: | Edit

My two aunts were named Anna - Anna Mary and Anna Mae. Both are deceased, and if living they'd be in their late 90s/100. This is a name that definitely stands the test of time, as its popularity has endured since the late nineteenth century and shows no signs of slowing in the 21st century. The Biblical origins (Luke 2:36) are now being obscured by popular film characters and song muses.

My name is Anna and I have a love/hate relationship with it. I don't like it, because it was popular back in the late 1800's and early 1900's and seems "oldies". But by the same token it's short and sweet, and I haven't met anyone with my first and last name yet!

Two years ago I was reading the book "My Sister's Keeper" and I loved the sister-relationship Kate and Anna had so when our fraternal twin daughters were born a year later my husband and I named our daughters Kate Marie and Anna Rose after the sisters from "My Sister's Keeper". When my daughters are older I hope they'll read "My Sister's Keeper" so they know why they were named Kate and Anna.

My name is Anna, I have always loved my name, Its simple but lovely. I never have to spell my name out to people and its the same backwards :)

Frequently gets mispronounced as Ana for me...probably because I have a Hispanic last name, Valencia and I live close to the border where there is a high Hispanic population. Don't let that stop you from naming your daughter Anna though, I think it is a beautiful and simple name.

My sister is called Anna, and she frequently gets mistaken for Hannah. Her dad named her Anna after Agnetha from Abba, who was also known as Anna.

My name is Anna Caroline Rose Erins i go by Annarose just my first name adn my middle name! i love my name i think it's so pretty! i did get sick of the common name anna so i can up with Annarose! i don't know another one! i love it it is a pretty name! my dad insisted on the name Anna he thought it was simple sweet and i love my name because it has so many nicknames! but i do get mistaken for ana alot! i don't know why!! I don't go by Anna anymore i'm just Annarose!

My name is Annabel but I prefer Anna way better. It's simple but not exactly common. I do meet a few Annas but still it's not as common as the Briannas or Hannahs of my generation. Anna is also pretty and feminine but isn't as girly as Annabel. Overall I love my name especially since I was named after my great grandmother whose name was Anna. It's funny because my parents were going to name me Grace and Anna means Graceful. I just love the name Anna and am glade that's my name.

Nicknames for Anna: | Edit

Annie, Nan, Anya, Anoushka, Anouk, Ani, Annika, Ann, Nana, Anna-din Annabelle Ana
we call my sister Anna Banana even though she hates it.

Meanings and history of the name Anna: | Edit

Anna was a prophetess and recognized Jesus as Messiah when Mary and Joseph brought him to the temple. Luke 2:36

Famous real-life people named Anna: | Edit

Anna Kendrick, American actress
Anna Graceman, American singer
Anna Faris, American actress
Anna Torv, Australian actress
Anna Wintour, editor of American Vogue
Anna Nicole Smith, American model/actress
Anna Trebunskaya, ballroom dancer on Dancing with the Stars
Anna Paquin, actress
Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, American actress/singer
Anna Mae Bullock, American singer (known as Tina Turner)
Anna Netrebko, Russian opera singer

Anna in song, story & screen: | Edit

Anna Fitzpatrick - the 13-year-old main character of the book "My SIster's Kepper" by Jodi Picoult and the movie of the same name.
Anna - An Arthur Alexander Hit, covered later by The Beatles.
"Anna Begins", a song by Counting Crows
Anna Karenina, a novel by Leo Tolstoy
Anna Burnett, character in the book series "The Medallion of Franzek" by the argentine writer Canela Lopez Fassón
"Anna Rose", a song by Vienna Teng
Anna Latham Cornick, character in the Alpha and Omega urban fantasy series by Patricia Briggs

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80
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Smart?

70
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Sexy?

79
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Friendly?

72
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Creative?

71
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Strong?

66
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Young?

75
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Sophisticated?

Name Lists Featuring Anna

NameMapper

Current Popularity of Anna by State

Global Popularity of the Name Anna

  • #1 in Hungary
  • #1 in Switzerland (German)
  • #2 in Iceland
  • #3 in Czech Republic
  • #4 in Austria
  • #4 in Russia (Moscow)
  • #6 in Armenia
  • #6 in Germany
  • #7 in Denmark
  • #10 in Netherlands
  • #10 in Norway
  • #12 in Italy
  • #12 in Poland
  • #13 in Ukraine
  • #14 in Northern Ireland
  • #21 in Ireland
  • #26 in Canada (Alberta)
  • #26 in Canada (British Columbia)
  • #26 in United States
  • #27 in Scotland
  • #34 in Belgium
  • #58 in England
  • #65 in Australia (New South Wales)
  • #70 in Spain
  • #72 in Sweden
  • #84 in Australia (Victoria)
  • #113 in Canada (Quebec)