Anna: grace in a widely shared form
Anna means “grace” or “favor” and comes from the same Hebrew name as Hannah. Greek and Latin biblical usage carried the Anna form into many European languages, where it became established in its own right. Its four letters and two syllables have proved remarkably adaptable across language boundaries.
The spelling is also a palindrome: it reads the same backward and forward. That simple visual balance accompanies a long history in scripture, Christian tradition, royal households, and literature. Anna can feel familiar in English while remaining equally at home in many other naming traditions.
Hannah, Anna, and Anne
Anna represents the Greek and Latin form of Hannah. In the New Testament, Anna is also the name of the prophetess who recognizes the infant Jesus at the Temple. The same written form therefore has its own biblical bearer as well as its relationship with Hannah.
Christian tradition gives the name Anna to the mother of Mary, usually called Saint Anne in English. Devotion to her helped spread the family of names through medieval Europe. In England, Anna appeared alongside Ann and Anne from the later Middle Ages.
Those forms remain closely related while offering different rhythms. Ann and Anne are single syllables in English, Anna has two, and Hannah retains the opening h. Ana, used in several languages, offers the same basic shape with one n.
Anna Karenina and literary recognition
Leo Tolstoy placed Anna at the center of Anna Karenina, the novel about a married aristocrat whose relationship with Count Vronsky brings her into conflict with the expectations of Russian society. The title preserves the full name of one of literature’s most recognizable characters.
The novel follows other households as well, especially the life of Konstantin Levin, placing Anna’s choices within a wider exploration of family, marriage, and social life. Her name’s literary association is therefore substantial, tied to a complex adult character rather than a passing reference.
That Russian connection also illustrates Anna’s international reach. English-speaking readers recognize the spelling immediately, even as the character belongs to a different language and historical setting.
Pronunciation and familiar forms
The usual English pronunciation is AN-uh, with the first vowel heard in “cat.” Many other European languages use a more open ah sound. Both the vowel and the strength of the doubled consonant can change across languages, although the spelling remains the same.
Annie is a familiar English form from this name family. Anya belongs to the Russian branch, while Annika is a Scandinavian relative. Anna itself is short enough to use consistently without a nickname, offering a full two-syllable name in a particularly compact spelling.
Popularity in the United States
Anna ranked number two among American girls in 1880, the first year of the national series. Its largest annual count came in 1918, with 15,666 births. It therefore has a strong presence in the earliest generations covered by modern American statistics.
In 2025, Anna ranked 107 for girls, with 2,521 births. Although lower than its rank of 44 in 2015, it remained regularly used. The name’s long history and broad international familiarity extend well beyond any single popularity peak.
Sources & methodologyReferences, data & attribution
Meaning and history draw on the references below. American popularity figures use published Social Security Administration records for this exact spelling; counts below five for a name, sex, and year are omitted.
How popular is Anna?
In 2025, Anna ranked #107 among girls in the United States, with 2,521 recorded uses. The U.S. birth records first list this spelling for girls in 1880; its largest annual count was 15,666 in 1918. Rankings count each spelling separately. They describe national use, so local familiarity can differ. The popularity chart shows whether the name has remained common, returned after a quieter period, or risen recently.