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Name at a glance

Anna

Anna is a Hebrew-rooted name usually connected with grace or favor.

Ranked #107 in US baby names in 2025, peaked at #2 in 1880, declining over the past 5 years.

Anna is remembered in Luke as an elderly prophetess who worshiped, fasted, prayed, and recognized the significance of the infant Jesus in the temple.

Browse names
OriginHebrew, Greek
GenderGirl
FeelGraceful
PronunciationAN-uh

Is Anna biblical?

Yes

Biblical status Direct biblical person

Anna is a named person in Scripture, the aged prophetess who recognizes the infant Jesus in Luke 2.

Is Anna a Christian name?

Yes

Christian tradition Foundational, across traditions

Anna has centuries of broad Christian use as a biblical and saintly name, reinforced by Saint Anne, the traditional name of Mary's mother.

Plain answer

Anna is a biblical name from Luke, used across Christian communities for centuries and reinforced by the tradition of Saint Anne.

Confidence Moderate Last reviewed July 19, 2026 How this works

Meaning

The meaning of Anna

Anna is the Greek form related to Hannah, a Hebrew name commonly connected with grace or favor. That meaning fits the New Testament figure well because Anna's story is marked by patient devotion and the grace of recognizing God's work when it appears quietly.

Biblical story

Anna in the temple

Anna appears in Luke 2 at the presentation of Jesus in the temple. She is described as a prophetess who is advanced in years and devoted to worship, fasting, and prayer.

Her scene is brief but pivotal. She recognizes the child and speaks about him to those waiting for redemption. The name therefore carries a sense of patient faith, spiritual attentiveness, and hope fulfilled.

Name family

Anna, Hannah, Anne, and grace

Anna belongs to the same name family as Hannah, Anne, Ann, and Annie. Across Christian naming, these forms have been valued because they are simple, enduring, and connected with grace.

Anna feels lighter and more international than Hannah, while still carrying biblical weight. It works as a direct New Testament name and as part of a much older Hebrew naming tradition.

Sound

How to pronounce Anna

Phonetic
AN-uh
IPA
/ˈænə/

2 syllables · stress: AN-uh · ends in a vowel

Forms

Variants and nicknames

Alternate spellings

  • Anne
  • Ann
  • Ana
  • Anya
  • Hanna

Short forms and nicknames

  • Annie
  • Nan
  • Nancy

Languages

Anna in other languages

Greek
ἌνναAnna
Latin
Anna
Spanish
Ana
French
Anne
German
Anna
Italian
Anna
Russian
АннаAnna
Polish
AnnaThe same spelling carries the local Polish pronunciation.

Christian background

Christian and biblical background

Anna has been used across Christian communities for centuries because it is biblical, saintly, simple, and connected with grace. It also appears in Christian tradition through Saint Anne, the traditional name given to Mary's mother.

Scripture

The biblical figure

Anna is a prophetess in Luke who sees the infant Jesus in the temple and speaks about him to those waiting for redemption.

Bearers

Notable people named Anna

  • biblical

    Anna the prophetessAged widow in the Jerusalem temple who recognized the infant Jesus in Luke 2

  • historical

    Saint AnneTraditional name of the mother of Mary in Christian tradition, especially Catholic and Orthodox

  • historical

    Anna PavlovaRussian prima ballerina of the Imperial Russian Ballet, 1881 to 1931

  • historical

    Anna AkhmatovaRussian poet, one of the most acclaimed of the twentieth century, 1889 to 1966

  • modern

    Anna WintourBritish-American editor-in-chief of Vogue since 1988, born 1949

Saint

Saint Anne

Traditions
Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican
Patron of
grandmothers, mothers, miners, equestrians

Christian tradition (preserved especially in the Protoevangelium of James) names Anne as the mother of the Virgin Mary, though she is not named in the New Testament. Anne is the Latin form of Hannah; the cult is strongest in Catholic and Orthodox tradition.

Naming history

Naming tradition and history

Anna has moved easily across languages and Christian cultures. It is short, classic, and international, which has helped it remain usable even when longer traditional names feel heavy.

Recent US use

Anna in recent US use

Rank in 2025
#107
Peak rank
#2 in 1880
Recent trend
declining over the last 5 years
Years in the SSA records
146 (since 1880)

Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880-2025.

Sibling fit

Sibling name suggestions

For families

For families looking at Anna

For a Christian family, Anna offers a gentle biblical name with a strong meaning and a prayerful New Testament story. It feels familiar without losing its devotional depth.

Common questions

What does Anna mean?

Anna is usually connected with grace or favor.

Is Anna a biblical name?

Yes. Anna appears in Luke 2 as a prophetess in the temple.

Is Anna related to Hannah?

Yes. Anna is related to Hannah and belongs to the same grace-name family.

Sources

Sources for Anna

  • A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, Brown, Driver, and BriggsSupports: Hebrew etymology; grace or favor, form of Hannah.
  • The Gospel of Luke, King James Version (KJV 1769)Supports: biblical figure; prophetess who recognizes the infant Jesus in Luke 2.
  • The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, David Hugh Farmer (5th edition)Supports: Saint Anne; traditional name of the mother of Mary.

Last reviewed July 19, 2026. See our methodology, or report an error on the corrections page.

Read next

Related names

HannahThe Hebrew form of the same name; Anna in Greek is Hanna, the same root meaning 'grace'.MaryBoth Anna and Mary appear in Luke 2 at the infant Jesus' presentation; together they form the temple-recognition pair.GraceThe English virtue name in the same meaning family; Anna and Hannah both come from the Hebrew root for 'grace'.LydiaBoth are New Testament women defined by their attentive response to Christ; Anna at the temple, Lydia at Philippi.