Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Ana
GirlSpanish, Portuguese· “grace, favor (form of Anna)”
- Meaning
- grace, favor (form of Anna)
- Origin
- Spanish, Portuguese
- Pronunciation
- AH-nuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #245
- US babies 2025
- 1,276
- Best rank
- #119 (1991)
- Peak year
- 1991
Meaning and origin of Ana
Ana is a Spanish and Portuguese name that means “grace, favor (form of Anna)”.
Ana is the Spanish, Portuguese and South Slavic form of Anna, which comes from the Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or favor. In the Hebrew Bible, Hannah is the mother of the prophet Samuel, and in Christian tradition Saint Anne is the mother of the Virgin Mary. These associations made the name beloved across the Christian world. Ana is short, timeless and easy to use in many languages. It often appears in compound names such as Ana María or Ana Sofía, and it combines well with almost any middle name. In English the pronunciation AN-uh is also heard.
Popularity over time
Ana has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 130 different years. Its best national rank was #119 in 1991, the same year it reached its highest count of 2,652 babies. In 2025, 1,276 babies were named Ana, and it ranked #245 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #894 in 1920, #556 in 1950, #198 in 1980, #136 in 2000, #197 in 2010, and #245 in 2025. Of the 111,359 US girls named Ana since records began, 21% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 23,203 babies. Since 2010, 22,582 more have been named Ana.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Meagan, Hillary, Chelsey, Rachael, and Kara.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Ana ranked highest in Arizona, Texas, and Florida.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | #71 | 77 |
| Texas | #93 | 298 |
| Florida | #151 | 117 |
| Alabama | #166 | 26 |
| California | #174 | 184 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Ana is usually pronounced AH-nuh, with two syllables. It has three letters, starts with A and ends in “-na”.
Middle names for Ana
A few middle names that flow with Ana: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Ana
Similar names
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Lists that include Ana
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ana mean?
Ana is a Spanish and Portuguese name that means “grace, favor (form of Anna)”.
What is the origin of the name Ana?
Ana has Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew roots. Ana is the Spanish, Portuguese and South Slavic form of Anna, which comes from the Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or favor.
Is Ana a popular name?
Yes. Ana ranked #245 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Ana a boy or girl name?
Ana is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Ana?
Ana is usually pronounced AH-nuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings