Anja
Anja is a girl's name of Slavic origin.
Meaning
Favor or grace.
Origin and history
Anja is a European diminutive of Anna, derived from the Hebrew name Hannah. It is widely used across Slavic, Germanic, and Scandinavian languages. In the United States, it remains a relatively rare but recognizable choice with steady usage.
Popularity in the United States
2,797 babies in the United States have been named Anja since 1880. It ranks #3347 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1818.
States where it is most popular
- CA (30.6 %)
- MN (20.2 %)
- IL (6.7 %)
- WA (6.7 %)
- NY (6.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 157 |
| 1970-1980 | 195 |
| 1980-1990 | 216 |
| 1990-2000 | 400 |
| 2000-2010 | 872 |
| 2010-2019 | 674 |
| 2020-2029 | 283 |
Famous people named Anja
- Anja Rubik: Model, Activist
- Anja Paerson: Athlete, Alpine Skier
Fun facts
- Anja is the spelling predominantly used in German, Scandinavian, and South Slavic languages for the name Anya.
- The name gained international pop culture recognition through the character Anja Jenkins on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.