Anna
Anna is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Favor, grace.
Origin and history
Anna is a classic feminine name derived from the Hebrew Channah, meaning 'favor' or 'grace'. It has been an enduring favorite in the United States, ranking among the top female names since record-keeping began in 1880. Its simple elegance has allowed it to remain popular across multiple generations and cultures.
Popularity in the United States
914,859 babies in the United States have been named Anna since 1880. It ranks #17 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #79.
States where it is most popular
- PA (11.2 %)
- NY (9.5 %)
- CA (5.7 %)
- TX (5.2 %)
- OH (4.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 38,159 |
| 1890-1900 | 55,261 |
| 1900-1910 | 54,918 |
| 1910-1920 | 118,998 |
| 1920-1930 | 123,895 |
| 1930-1940 | 66,598 |
| 1940-1950 | 41,282 |
| 1950-1960 | 41,701 |
| 1960-1970 | 40,935 |
| 1970-1980 | 37,813 |
| 1980-1990 | 57,327 |
| 1990-2000 | 78,595 |
| 2000-2010 | 90,325 |
| 2010-2019 | 51,326 |
| 2020-2029 | 17,726 |
Famous people named Anna
- Anna Kendrick: Actress, Singer
- Anna Wintour: Journalist, Editor
- Anna Pavlova: Ballerina
Nicknames
Annie, Ann
Fun facts
- The name reached Western Europe via the Greek and Latin translations of the Hebrew name Channah.
- Anna is one of the most widely recognized palindromic given names, spelled the same backward and forward.
- Anna has consistently ranked among the top female names in the United States for over a century.