Gender: Female
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Gracious, Merciful
1. Meaning of the name "Anna"
The name Anna is the name of a girl of Jewish origin meaning "grace". Anna is the Latin form of Hannah, a Hebrew name derived from Chanan, meaning grace. European Christians embraced the names of their associations with the Virgin Mary's mother, Saint Anna, known in English as Saint Anne.
While Hannah and Anna are the most common forms of the name, variations including Annie, Annalise, Anya, Anika, Nancy, and Anais also rank in the US Top 1000.
Anna has become the dominant form of the Ann family, having been firmly in the Top 25 for years and only slipping in the past couple of years. Anna offers a touch of the exotic and a bit more style than the oversimplified Ann, used for generations throughout Europe, from Russia to Italy, Spain to The Netherlands.
Classic and simple, Anna would be an excellent choice for parents in search of a name that will bridge two different cultures, say Jewish and Italian.
In literature, Anna is affiliated with Anna Karenina of Tolstoy. The name was given some fresh life when it was used for the adorable younger sister voiced by Kristen Bell in the animated film Frozen.
Three current bearers are actresses Anna Kendrick, Anna Friel, and Anna Paquin. Anya takes it more into the territory of the exotic and Anja, even further.
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