Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Anna
GirlHebrew, Greek· “grace, favor”
- Meaning
- grace, favor
- Origin
- Hebrew, Greek
- Pronunciation
- AN-uh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #107
- US babies 2025
- 2,521
- Best rank
- #2 (1880)
- Peak year
- 1918
Meaning and origin of Anna
Anna is a Hebrew and Greek name that means “grace, favor”.
Anna is the Greek and Latin form of the Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or favor. In the Gospel of Luke, Anna is an elderly prophetess who recognizes the infant Jesus in the Temple, and Christian tradition gives the name Anne or Anna to the mother of the Virgin Mary. Those associations spread the name through nearly every European language, and it has been borne by empresses, queens and princesses. Literature added Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. Anna is short, symmetrical and pronounceable almost everywhere, which helps explain its lasting appeal. It reads as classic rather than trendy, and it pairs easily with longer middle names.
Popularity over time
Anna 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 146 different years. Its best national rank was #2 in 1880, and the most babies received it in 1918, when 15,666 were named Anna. In 2025, 2,521 babies were named Anna, and it ranked #107 nationally. That is 51% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #10 in 1920, #93 in 1950, #55 in 1980, #22 in 2000, #27 in 2010, and #107 in 2025. Of the 914,859 US girls named Anna since records began, 14% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 118,998 babies. Since 2010, 69,052 more have been named Anna.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Frances, Florence, Rose, Edna, and Josephine.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Anna ranked highest in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and Kentucky.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | #61 | 141 |
| Arkansas | #68 | 37 |
| Kentucky | #69 | 54 |
| Louisiana | #69 | 50 |
| Alaska | #71 | 8 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Anna is usually pronounced AN-uh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with A and ends in “-na”.
Middle names for Anna
A few middle names that flow with Anna: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Anna
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Lists that include Anna
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Anna mean?
Anna is a Hebrew and Greek name that means “grace, favor”.
What is the origin of the name Anna?
Anna has Hebrew, Greek, and Latin roots. Anna is the Greek and Latin form of the Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or favor.
Is Anna a popular name?
Yes. Anna ranked #107 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Anna a boy or girl name?
Anna is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Anna?
Anna is usually pronounced AN-uh. 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