Anna Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AN-uh /ˈænə/
Origin: Hebrew; Latin; Greek
Meaning: Hebrew: grace; Latin: favor; Greek: full of grace
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Anna has its roots in the Hebrew name חַנָּה (Channah), which means "grace" or "favor." This name was transliterated into Greek as Ἄννα (Anna) and subsequently adopted into Latin as Anna. The transition into English occurred through the Old French form Anne, which was prevalent in medieval England, particularly after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.
The name has maintained its form and phonetics across these languages, reflecting its enduring appeal and simplicity. Historically, Anna is associated with several significant figures, particularly in religious contexts.
In the Christian tradition, Anna is recognized as the mother of the Virgin Mary, making her a prominent figure in the New Testament. This association is notably highlighted in the apocryphal Gospel of James, which dates back to the 2nd century.
The name also appears in various forms in the Bible, contributing to its historical resonance. Additionally, Anna was a common name among early saints, further solidifying its place in Christian heritage.
Culturally, the name Anna has been embraced across various societies, often symbolizing grace and favor. Its simplicity and elegance have allowed it to transcend cultural boundaries, making it a timeless choice in many languages and traditions.
In literature and art, Anna has been depicted in various forms, often embodying virtues such as kindness and compassion. The diminutive form "Annie" has also emerged in various cultures, reflecting a more intimate or affectionate version of the name, although Anna itself remains the more formal and widely recognized version.
Famous people named Anna
In this section, you will find notable people named Anna. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Anna who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Anna who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Anna Kendrick is an actress and singer best known for Pitch Perfect, Up in the Air, and Into the Woods.
Anna Wintour is a journalist and editor best known for her role as editor-in-chief of Vogue and for The September Issue.
Anna Paquin is an actress best known for her roles in The Piano, True Blood, and X-Men.
Anna Faris is an actress and comedian best known for Scary Movie, The House Bunny, and Mom.
Anna Kournikova is a retired professional tennis player best known for her doubles success and her appearances in various media.
Anna Netrebko is an operatic soprano best known for her performances at the Metropolitan Opera and her recordings of classical music.
Anna Deavere Smith is an actress and playwright best known for her work in The West Wing, Nurse Jackie, and her documentary theater pieces.
Fictional characters named Anna
The following list of fictional characters named Anna is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Anna is a fictional character from the animated film Frozen. She is the optimistic and adventurous sister of Elsa, the Snow Queen, who embarks on a journey to save her kingdom from eternal winter.
Anna is a fictional character from the novel Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. She is a tragic heroine who struggles with her desires and societal expectations in 19th-century Russia.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Anna, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Anna. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Anna was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Anna has ranked as high as #19 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, New York, California, Texas, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Anna has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Anna is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Anna was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Anna.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,521 | 0 | 2,521 |
| 2024 | 2,716 | 0 | 2,716 |
| 2023 | 2,934 | 0 | 2,934 |
| 2022 | 2,962 | 0 | 2,962 |
| 2021 | 3,088 | 6 | 3,082 |
| 2020 | 3,516 | 5 | 3,511 |
| 2019 | 3,849 | 0 | 3,849 |
| 2018 | 4,203 | 5 | 4,198 |
| 2017 | 4,582 | 8 | 4,574 |
| 2016 | 4,816 | 6 | 4,810 |
| 2015 | 5,157 | 7 | 5,150 |
| 2014 | 5,706 | 0 | 5,706 |
| 2013 | 5,405 | 7 | 5,398 |
| 2012 | 5,635 | 5 | 5,630 |
| 2011 | 5,682 | 7 | 5,675 |
| 2010 | 6,346 | 10 | 6,336 |
| 2009 | 6,828 | 10 | 6,818 |
| 2008 | 7,289 | 11 | 7,278 |
| 2007 | 7,912 | 11 | 7,901 |
| 2006 | 8,618 | 5 | 8,613 |
| 2005 | 9,132 | 19 | 9,113 |
| 2004 | 9,577 | 46 | 9,531 |
| 2003 | 9,477 | 13 | 9,464 |
| 2002 | 10,410 | 12 | 10,398 |
| 2001 | 10,605 | 9 | 10,596 |
| 2000 | 10,622 | 9 | 10,613 |
| 1999 | 9,126 | 11 | 9,115 |
| 1998 | 8,399 | 13 | 8,386 |
| 1997 | 8,342 | 0 | 8,342 |
| 1996 | 8,584 | 9 | 8,575 |
| 1995 | 8,584 | 14 | 8,570 |
| 1994 | 7,547 | 18 | 7,529 |
| 1993 | 6,821 | 8 | 6,813 |
| 1992 | 6,859 | 6 | 6,853 |
| 1991 | 7,133 | 14 | 7,119 |
| 1990 | 7,326 | 33 | 7,293 |
| 1989 | 6,956 | 58 | 6,898 |
| 1988 | 6,472 | 28 | 6,444 |
| 1987 | 6,194 | 24 | 6,170 |
| 1986 | 5,936 | 28 | 5,908 |
| 1985 | 5,901 | 18 | 5,883 |
| 1984 | 5,328 | 22 | 5,306 |
| 1983 | 5,232 | 15 | 5,217 |
| 1982 | 5,294 | 23 | 5,271 |
| 1981 | 5,216 | 24 | 5,192 |
| 1980 | 5,061 | 23 | 5,038 |
| 1979 | 4,699 | 29 | 4,670 |
| 1978 | 4,187 | 14 | 4,173 |
| 1977 | 3,870 | 19 | 3,851 |
| 1976 | 3,599 | 15 | 3,584 |
| 1975 | 3,592 | 14 | 3,578 |
| 1974 | 3,634 | 12 | 3,622 |
| 1973 | 3,519 | 12 | 3,507 |
| 1972 | 3,462 | 13 | 3,449 |
| 1971 | 3,592 | 14 | 3,578 |
| 1970 | 3,822 | 21 | 3,801 |
| 1969 | 3,732 | 12 | 3,720 |
| 1968 | 3,579 | 10 | 3,569 |
| 1967 | 3,741 | 13 | 3,728 |
| 1966 | 3,698 | 16 | 3,682 |
| 1965 | 3,933 | 13 | 3,920 |
| 1964 | 4,313 | 21 | 4,292 |
| 1963 | 4,274 | 17 | 4,257 |
| 1962 | 4,444 | 14 | 4,430 |
| 1961 | 4,697 | 19 | 4,678 |
| 1960 | 4,673 | 14 | 4,659 |
| 1959 | 4,898 | 20 | 4,878 |
| 1958 | 4,668 | 7 | 4,661 |
| 1957 | 4,453 | 11 | 4,442 |
| 1956 | 4,413 | 19 | 4,394 |
| 1955 | 4,105 | 15 | 4,090 |
| 1954 | 4,012 | 12 | 4,000 |
| 1953 | 3,848 | 11 | 3,837 |
| 1952 | 3,729 | 15 | 3,714 |
| 1951 | 3,884 | 14 | 3,870 |
| 1950 | 3,824 | 9 | 3,815 |
| 1949 | 3,912 | 15 | 3,897 |
| 1948 | 4,052 | 15 | 4,037 |
| 1947 | 4,253 | 15 | 4,238 |
| 1946 | 4,013 | 14 | 3,999 |
| 1945 | 3,619 | 12 | 3,607 |
| 1944 | 3,650 | 15 | 3,635 |
| 1943 | 4,245 | 13 | 4,232 |
| 1942 | 4,512 | 24 | 4,488 |
| 1941 | 4,446 | 14 | 4,432 |
| 1940 | 4,742 | 25 | 4,717 |
| 1939 | 4,947 | 18 | 4,929 |
| 1938 | 5,167 | 22 | 5,145 |
| 1937 | 5,467 | 18 | 5,449 |
| 1936 | 5,764 | 37 | 5,727 |
| 1935 | 6,192 | 30 | 6,162 |
| 1934 | 6,705 | 25 | 6,680 |
| 1933 | 7,097 | 25 | 7,072 |
| 1932 | 7,962 | 38 | 7,924 |
| 1931 | 8,462 | 33 | 8,429 |
| 1930 | 9,133 | 52 | 9,081 |
| 1929 | 9,793 | 42 | 9,751 |
| 1928 | 10,626 | 51 | 10,575 |
| 1927 | 11,264 | 49 | 11,215 |
| 1926 | 11,746 | 48 | 11,698 |
| 1925 | 12,284 | 34 | 12,250 |
| 1924 | 13,108 | 32 | 13,076 |
| 1923 | 12,903 | 38 | 12,865 |
| 1922 | 13,449 | 41 | 13,408 |
| 1921 | 14,504 | 28 | 14,476 |
| 1920 | 14,614 | 33 | 14,581 |
| 1919 | 14,540 | 42 | 14,498 |
| 1918 | 15,697 | 31 | 15,666 |
| 1917 | 15,193 | 33 | 15,160 |
| 1916 | 15,263 | 35 | 15,228 |
| 1915 | 15,150 | 31 | 15,119 |
| 1914 | 11,905 | 40 | 11,865 |
| 1913 | 9,718 | 31 | 9,687 |
| 1912 | 8,615 | 29 | 8,586 |
| 1911 | 6,773 | 20 | 6,753 |
| 1910 | 6,457 | 21 | 6,436 |
| 1909 | 5,828 | 24 | 5,804 |
| 1908 | 5,870 | 10 | 5,860 |
| 1907 | 5,595 | 20 | 5,575 |
| 1906 | 5,515 | 13 | 5,502 |
| 1905 | 5,445 | 21 | 5,424 |
| 1904 | 5,346 | 16 | 5,330 |
| 1903 | 5,116 | 18 | 5,098 |
| 1902 | 5,304 | 16 | 5,288 |
| 1901 | 4,941 | 18 | 4,923 |
| 1900 | 6,139 | 25 | 6,114 |
| 1899 | 5,138 | 23 | 5,115 |
| 1898 | 5,804 | 31 | 5,773 |
| 1897 | 5,448 | 19 | 5,429 |
| 1896 | 5,877 | 17 | 5,860 |
| 1895 | 5,968 | 18 | 5,950 |
| 1894 | 5,585 | 20 | 5,565 |
| 1893 | 5,712 | 17 | 5,695 |
| 1892 | 5,562 | 20 | 5,542 |
| 1891 | 5,114 | 15 | 5,099 |
| 1890 | 5,253 | 20 | 5,233 |
| 1889 | 5,085 | 23 | 5,062 |
| 1888 | 5,008 | 26 | 4,982 |
| 1887 | 4,240 | 13 | 4,227 |
| 1886 | 4,298 | 15 | 4,283 |
| 1885 | 4,014 | 20 | 3,994 |
| 1884 | 3,880 | 20 | 3,860 |
| 1883 | 3,322 | 16 | 3,306 |
| 1882 | 3,143 | 0 | 3,143 |
| 1881 | 2,714 | 16 | 2,698 |
| 1880 | 2,616 | 12 | 2,604 |
Top States for Anna (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 264 | |
| CA | 237 | |
| NY | 147 | |
| PA | 140 | |
| FL | 131 | |
| OH | 108 | |
| NC | 100 | |
| GA | 99 | |
| MI | 89 | |
| TN | 87 | |
| VA | 85 | |
| IL | 82 | |
| AL | 71 | |
| IN | 69 | |
| MA | 69 | |
| WA | 67 | |
| KY | 67 | |
| NJ | 53 | |
| MO | 51 | |
| MD | 48 | |
| WI | 48 | |
| MN | 46 | |
| AZ | 45 | |
| SC | 45 | |
| LA | 43 | |
| CO | 40 | |
| IA | 30 | |
| OR | 28 | |
| AR | 27 | |
| KS | 26 | |
| OK | 25 | |
| CT | 24 | |
| MS | 24 | |
| UT | 24 | |
| WV | 19 | |
| ID | 18 | |
| NM | 15 | |
| NE | 14 | |
| DC | 12 | |
| ME | 10 | |
| SD | 10 | |
| NV | 9 | |
| ND | 9 | |
| NH | 8 | |
| DE | 8 | |
| RI | 7 | |
| MT | 7 | |
| AK | 5 | |
| VT | 5 |