Anna (given name)

Anna

Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, depicted instructing her daughter in this painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The popularity of the name Anne is largely due to this saint.
Pronunciation English: /ˈænə/
Gender Female
Origin
Language(s) Hebrew, Greek, Latin
Meaning full of grace, Favor, Eagle
Other names
See also Anne, Annie, Annette, Ana, Ann, Hanna, Hannah, Anita, Anneliese, Analeigh

Anna is a Latin form of the Greek name Greek Ἄννα and the Hebrew name Hannah (Hebrew: חַנָּה Ḥannāh‎, meaning "favor" or "grace"). Anna is in wide use in countries across the world as are its variants Anne, originally a French version of the name, though in use in English speaking countries for hundreds of years, and Ann, which was originally the English spelling. Saint Anne was traditionally the name of the mother of the Virgin Mary, which accounts for its wide use and popularity among Christians. The name has also been used for numerous saints and queens.

In the Frisian language it is also used as a male name, in which case it is derived from the old Germanic word element arn, meaning "eagle."[1] The mid-seventh century King Anna of East Anglia was one such male Anna. A modern example is Anne de Vries.

Contents

Variant forms

Alternate forms of Anna, including spelling variants, short forms and diminutives include:

Composite names including Anna and variants

People

There are a number of people whose first name and the most significant name was Anna or Anne:

See also

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Behind the Name