Anna

See also: Appendix:Variations of "anna"

English

Etymology

The Latinate and New Testament form of Ann, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), equal to the Hebrew female name חַנָּה‎ (ḥanâ) of Old Testament, meaning "grace, gracious". Doublet of Hannah.

The city in Illinois was named after Anna Davie, the wife of one of the first settlers.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈænə/
• (æ-tensing) IPA^(key): [ˈeənə]

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ænə

Proper noun

Anna (plural Annas)

1. A female given name from Hebrew.
   • c. 1886 William Ernest Henley, A Ballade of Ladies' Names, Gleeson White:Ballades and Rondeaus, Read Books 1887, page 19:

     Every lover the years disclose / Is of a beautiful name made free. / One befriends, and all others are foes. / Anna's the name of names for me.

   • 1967, Joan G. Robinson, When Marnie Was There, HarperCollins, published 2014, →ISBN, page 189:

     M for Madeleine, M for Marguerite, M for Melanie and the rest, she thought, smiling as she remembered the long string of glamorous names they had invented for her. No wonder plain "Anna" had seemed a little disappointing!

   • 1986, Sue Miller, The Good Mother, G.K.Hall, published 1987, →ISBN, page 183:

     His real name was Leonard, Len. He'd changed it when he came East. "Len," he said. "A turd of a name. Who wants it? I mean a name that ends in a nasalization, for Christ's sake. Leo now. It's like Anna. They go on forever. You can live with a name like that."

2. A prophetess in the New Testament.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 2:36:

     And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

3. A city in Illinois.
4. A city in Texas.
5. A town in Voronezh Oblast, Russia.
6. A village in Järva, Estonia.
7. A village in Fars, Iran.
8. A village in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Iran.
9. A village in Ohio; after Anna Thirkield, an early settler.
10. A municipality of Valencia, Spain.

Usage notes

• The name or its cognates are well used in all European languages because of the medieval cult of St. Anna or Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary.
• Anna is periodically popular in the English-speaking world as a Latinate variant of Ann/Anne.

Derived terms

• Anna Kournikova
• Anna potatoes
• Anna's hummingbird

Translations

given name — see Ann

biblical prophetess

• Arabic: حَنَّة‎ f (ḥanna)
• Armenian: Աննա (Anna)
• Belarusian: Га́нна f (Hánna)
• Bengali: আনা (bn) (ana)
• Bulgarian: А́нна f (Ánna)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 安娜 (zh) (Ānnà), 亞拿／亚拿 (Yàná)

• Danish: Anna f
• Dutch: Anna (nl) f
• Estonian: Hanna
• Faroese: Anna, Hanna f
• Finnish: Hanna (fi)
• French: Anne (fr) f
• Georgian: ანა (ana)
• German: Hanna f, Anna (de) f (Textbibel, Elberfelder Bibel)
• Hawaiian: ʻAna
• Hebrew: חַנָּה‎ (he) f (khaná)
• Hungarian: Anna (hu)
• Italian: Anna (it)
• Japanese: アンナ (Anna)
• Korean: 안나 (Anna)
• Macedonian: Ана (mk) f (Ana)
• Northern Sami: Ánná
• Norwegian: Anna (no)
• Persian: حنا‎ (fa) (hannâ)
• Portuguese: Ana (pt) f
• Russian: А́нна (ru) f (Ánna)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: А̏на, А́на f

  Roman: Ȁna, Ána f

• Swedish: Hanna (sv) c
• Thai: อันนา
• Ukrainian: Га́нна f (Hánna)

Anagrams

• A.A.N.N., Nana, anan, na-na, naan, nana

Catalan

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Central) IPA^(key): /ˈan.nə/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /ˈan.na/

Proper noun

Anna f

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈana]

Proper noun

Anna f (related adjective Annin)

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann

Declension

Declension of Anna (hard feminine reducible)

	singular	plural
nominative	Anna	Anny
genitive	Anny	Anen
dative	Anně	Annám
accusative	Annu	Anny
vocative	Anno	Anny
locative	Anně	Annách
instrumental	Annou	Annami

Related terms

• Anička
• Anka
• Anuška

 

Danish

Proper noun

Anna

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann
2. Anna (Biblical prophetess)

Related terms

• Ane, Anette, Anita, Anja, Ann, Anne, Annelise, Annemarie, Annette, Anni, Annie, Anny

References

• [1] Danskernes Navne, based on CPR data: 114 513 females with the given name Anna have been registered in Denmark between about 1890 (=the population alive in 1967) and January 2005, with the frequency peak in the 19th century. Accessed on 19 May, 2011.

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch Anna, from Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Hebrew חַנָּה‎ (Ḥannâ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑ.naː/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: An‧na

Proper noun

Anna f

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann
2. Anna (Biblical prophetess)

Related terms

• An, Anita, Ank, Anke, Ankie, Anne, Annet, Annette, Annie, Annita, Anoejska, Ans, Antje
• Hanna

Estonian

Proper noun

Anna

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann

Related terms

• Anete, Ann, Anne, Anneli, Anni, Annika, Anu

Faroese

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Hebrew חַנָּה‎ (ḥannâ).

Proper noun

Anna f (genitive singular Onnu or Annu)

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann

Declension

Singular Indefinite Nominative Anna Accusative Onnu Dative Onnu Genitive Onnu

Singular Indefinite Nominative Anna Accusative Annu Dative Annu Genitive Annu

Finnish

Etymology

From Vulgate Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), equal to the Hebrew female name חַנָּה‎ (ḥannâ) of Old Testament, meaning "grace, gracious".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑnːɑ/, [ˈɑ̝nːɑ̝]
• Rhymes: -ɑnːɑ
• Syllabification^(key): An‧na

Proper noun

Anna

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann
   • 1870, Aleksis Kivi, Seitsemän veljestä (Seven Brothers): Chapter 14:

     Aviona oli hänellä Seunalan hoikka tytär, liinatukkainen, kainosilmäinen Anna, hän, joka oli nähnyt kummia näköjä ja houraillen ennustellut paljon ihmeitä.

     Richard A. Impola (1991)

     His wife was the slender daughter of Seunala, shy-eyed Anna, who had seen strange visions in trances and predicted many wonders.

   • 1984, Eira Stenberg, Paratiisin vangit, Tammi, →ISBN, page 5:

     Minun nimeni on Sisko. Ei se ole ihmisen nimi. Se on nimi suhteelle. Minä olin alusta alkaen sivuhenkilö. [ - - - ] Anna oli sievä ja kiharapäinen kuin kiiltokuvaenkeli. Kun äiti huusi häntä ikkunasta, se kuulosti pyynnöltä, lähes rukoukselta: anna, anna! Amen, minä lisäsin usein mielessäni. Koko piha kaikui annoista. [ - - - ]

     My name is Sisko. That's not how a human is called, that's how a relationship is called. I was a side character from the start. [ - - - ] Anna was pretty with curly hair, like an angel from a kiiltokuva. When her mother called her out of the window, it sounded like a request, almost like a prayer: anna, anna [give]! Amen, I often answered in my mind, as annas echoed throughout the yard.

   • 2010, Ilkka Raitasuo - Terhi Siltala, Kellokosken prinsessa, Like Kustannus Oy, →ISBN, page 211:

     Eräänä Annan päivänä 1960-luvulla ylilääkäri Alivirta oli pistäytynyt osastolla toivottamassa kaikille juhlijoille hyvää nimipäivää. Tuolloin Prinsessa oli oikaissut Isä Paavalia ja todennut, että hän oli oikeastaan Anita. Hän piti Annaa hieman rahvaanomaisena ja vanhahtavana etunimenä.

     On one Anna's day in the 1960s, senior physician Alivirta had visited the department to wish everyone a happy name day. The Princess had then corrected Father Paavali himself and stated that she was actually called Anita. She thought of Anna as a rather folksy and old-fashioned name.

2. (obsolete) Anna (biblical prophetess)
   • 1548, The Holy Bible, Luke 2:36:

     Ja oli Anna Prophetissa Phanuelin Tyter Aserin sughusta teme oli ioutunudh pitkelle ijelle ia oli elenyt miehens cansa seitzemen wootha hene’ Neitzydeste’s

     And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

Usage notes

• Traditionally one of the most popular female names in Finland, for example, the most common first name of women throughout the 19th century.
• Common first part of conjoined names such as Anna-Liisa and Anna-Maija.

Declension

Inflection of Anna (Kotus type 9/kala, no gradation)
nominative		Anna	Annat
genitive		Annan	Annojen
partitive		Annaa	Annoja
illative		Annaan	Annoihin
		singular	plural
nominative		Anna	Annat
accusative	nom.	Anna	Annat
	gen.	Annan
genitive		Annan	Annojen Annainrare
partitive		Annaa	Annoja
inessive		Annassa	Annoissa
elative		Annasta	Annoista
illative		Annaan	Annoihin
adessive		Annalla	Annoilla
ablative		Annalta	Annoilta
allative		Annalle	Annoille
essive		Annana	Annoina
translative		Annaksi	Annoiksi
instructive		—	Annoin
abessive		Annatta	Annoitta
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of Anna (type kala)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Annani Annani accusative nom. Annani Annani gen. Annani genitive Annani Annojeni Annainirare partitive Annaani Annojani inessive Annassani Annoissani elative Annastani Annoistani illative Annaani Annoihini adessive Annallani Annoillani ablative Annaltani Annoiltani allative Annalleni Annoilleni essive Annanani Annoinani translative Annakseni Annoikseni instructive — — abessive Annattani Annoittani comitative — Annoineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Annasi Annasi accusative nom. Annasi Annasi gen. Annasi genitive Annasi Annojesi Annaisirare partitive Annaasi Annojasi inessive Annassasi Annoissasi elative Annastasi Annoistasi illative Annaasi Annoihisi adessive Annallasi Annoillasi ablative Annaltasi Annoiltasi allative Annallesi Annoillesi essive Annanasi Annoinasi translative Annaksesi Annoiksesi instructive — — abessive Annattasi Annoittasi comitative — Annoinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Annamme Annamme accusative nom. Annamme Annamme gen. Annamme genitive Annamme Annojemme Annaimmerare partitive Annaamme Annojamme inessive Annassamme Annoissamme elative Annastamme Annoistamme illative Annaamme Annoihimme adessive Annallamme Annoillamme ablative Annaltamme Annoiltamme allative Annallemme Annoillemme essive Annanamme Annoinamme translative Annaksemme Annoiksemme instructive — — abessive Annattamme Annoittamme comitative — Annoinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Annanne Annanne accusative nom. Annanne Annanne gen. Annanne genitive Annanne Annojenne Annainnerare partitive Annaanne Annojanne inessive Annassanne Annoissanne elative Annastanne Annoistanne illative Annaanne Annoihinne adessive Annallanne Annoillanne ablative Annaltanne Annoiltanne allative Annallenne Annoillenne essive Annananne Annoinanne translative Annaksenne Annoiksenne instructive — — abessive Annattanne Annoittanne comitative — Annoinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative Annansa Annansa accusative nom. Annansa Annansa gen. Annansa genitive Annansa Annojensa Annainsarare partitive Annaansa Annojaan Annojansa inessive Annassaan Annassansa Annoissaan Annoissansa elative Annastaan Annastansa Annoistaan Annoistansa illative Annaansa Annoihinsa adessive Annallaan Annallansa Annoillaan Annoillansa ablative Annaltaan Annaltansa Annoiltaan Annoiltansa allative Annalleen Annallensa Annoilleen Annoillensa essive Annanaan Annanansa Annoinaan Annoinansa translative Annakseen Annaksensa Annoikseen Annoiksensa instructive — — abessive Annattaan Annattansa Annoittaan Annoittansa comitative — Annoineen Annoinensa

Related terms

• (given names) Anita, Anitta, Anja, Anna-Liisa, Anne, Anneli, Anni, Anniina, Annika, Annikki, Annukka, Anu, Hanna
• (surnames) Annala

Statistics

• Anna is the 4^th most common female given name in Finland, belonging to 28,677 female individuals (and as a middle name to 17,232 more), and also belongs to 5 male individuals (and as a middle name to 5 more), according to February 2023 data from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency of Finland.

Anagrams

• Nana, naan

French

Etymology

A Latinate variant of French Anne, from Ἄννα (Ánna), equal to the Hebrew female name חַנָּה‎ (ḥannâ) of Old Testament, meaning "grace, gracious". Cognate with English Anna.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.na/

• Audio

  (file)

Proper noun

Anna f

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann

Anagrams

• nana

German

Etymology

From Latin Anna, which see.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈana/, [ˈʔa.na]

• Audio

  (file)

• Audio

  (file)

Proper noun

Anna f (genitive Annas or (with an article) Anna)

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann

Related terms

• (variants) Anne, Änne
• (pet forms) Anita, Anja, Anke, Ännchen, Anneke, Ännerl, Ännerle, Annette (Anette), Anni (Anny), Änni, Annika (Anika), Antje
• (derivatives) Anneliese (Annelise), Annelie (Anneli), Annemarie, Annemie

Greenlandic

Alternative forms

• Ána (old orthography)

Etymology

Borrowed from Danish Anna.

Proper noun

Anna

1. a female given name from Danish, equivalent to English Ann
2. Anna (biblical)

Related terms

• Aani
• Anni

References

• Nuka Møller: Kalaallit aqqi (Greenlandic personal names), Oqaasileriffik 2015, →ISBN
• [2] Danskernes navne 2005, including the residents of Greenland

Hungarian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈɒnːɒ]

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: An‧na
• Rhymes: -nɒ

Proper noun

Anna

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann

Declension

Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, back harmony)
	singular	plural
nominative	Anna	Annák
accusative	Annát	Annákat
dative	Annának	Annáknak
instrumental	Annával	Annákkal
causal-final	Annáért	Annákért
translative	Annává	Annákká
terminative	Annáig	Annákig
essive-formal	Annaként	Annákként
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	Annában	Annákban
superessive	Annán	Annákon
adessive	Annánál	Annáknál
illative	Annába	Annákba
sublative	Annára	Annákra
allative	Annához	Annákhoz
elative	Annából	Annákból
delative	Annáról	Annákról
ablative	Annától	Annáktól
non-attributive possessive - singular	Annáé	Annáké
non-attributive possessive - plural	Annáéi	Annákéi

Possessive forms of Anna
possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	Annám	Annáim
2nd person sing.	Annád	Annáid
3rd person sing.	Annája	Annái
1st person plural	Annánk	Annáink
2nd person plural	Annátok	Annáitok
3rd person plural	Annájuk	Annáik

Derived terms

• Ancsa
• Anikó
• Annácska
• Annus
• Panna

 

Compound words

• Annabella
• Annakata
• Annaliza
• Annamária
• Annaróza
• Annavera

 

Related terms

• Anett
• Anetta
• Anica
• Anita
• Anka
• Hanna
• Nina

 

Icelandic

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Hebrew חַנָּה‎ (ḥannâ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈanːa]
• Rhymes: -anːa

  Homophones: anna

Proper noun

Anna f (genitive singular Önnu)

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann

Declension

declension of Anna

f-w1	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	Anna	Annan	Önnur	Önnurnar
accusative	Önnu	Önnuna	Önnur	Önnurnar
dative	Önnu	Önnunni	Önnum	Önnunum
genitive	Önnu	Önnunnar	Anna	Annanna

Italian

Etymology

From Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Biblical Hebrew חַנָּה‎ (Ḥannâ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈan.na/
• Rhymes: -anna
• Hyphenation: Àn‧na

Proper noun

Anna f

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann
2. Hannah (Biblical mother of Samuel)
3. Anna (Biblical prophetess)

Related terms

• Annina, Nina

Anagrams

• nana

Japanese

Romanization

Anna

1. Rōmaji transcription of アンナ

Latin

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Biblical Hebrew חַנָּה‎ (Ḥannâ).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈan.na/, [ˈänːä]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈan.na/, [ˈänːä]

Proper noun

Anna f sg (genitive Annae); first declension

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann

Declension

First-declension noun, singular only.

Case	Singular
Nominative	Anna
Genitive	Annae
Dative	Annae
Accusative	Annam
Ablative	Annā
Vocative	Anna

Descendants

• Italian: Anna

Proper noun

Annā f

1. ablative of Anna

Latvian

Etymology

First recorded as a given name of Latvians in 1454. From Vulgate Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), equal to the Hebrew female name חַנָּה‎ (ḥannâ) of Old Testament, meaning "grace, gracious". Cognate with English Ann.

Proper noun

Anna f

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann
2. A transliteration of the Russian female given name А́нна (Ánna).
3. A respelling of the English female given name Ann.
4. A respelling of the English or French female given name Anne.

Related terms

• Ance, Anete, Anita, Annija, Enija

References

• Klāvs Siliņš: Latviešu personvārdu vārdnīca. Riga "Zinātne" 1990, →ISBN
• [3] Population Register of Latvia: Anna was the only given name of 25 747 persons in Latvia on May 21st 2010.

Norwegian

Etymology

First recorded in Norway in 1340. From Vulgate Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), equal to the Hebrew female name חַנָּה‎ (ḥannâ) of Old Testament, meaning "grace, gracious". Cognate with English Ann.

Proper noun

Anna

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann
2. Anna, the prophetess.

Usage notes

• One of the most popular given names in Norway since the Middle Ages. For example, the most common name of women born in Norway from the 1870s to the 1910s.

Related terms

• Ane, Anette, Anita, Anja, Ann, Anne, Annette, Anniken, Anny

References

• Kristoffer Kruken - Ola Stemshaug: Norsk personnamnleksikon, Det Norske Samlaget, Oslo 1995, →ISBN
• [4] Statistisk sentralbyrå, Namnestatistikk: 17 721 females with the given name Anna living in Norway on January 1st 2011, with the frequency peak in the 1880s. Accessed on April 18th, 2011.

Polish

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Hebrew חַנָּה‎ (ḥannâ). Doublet of Hanna.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈan.na/

• Audio 1

  (file)

• Audio 2

  (file)

• Audio 3

  (file)

• Rhymes: -anna
• Syllabification: An‧na

Proper noun

Anna f (diminutive Andzia or Aneczka or Ania or Anka or Anula or Anusia)

1. a female given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Ann, Anna
2. 265 Anna (main belt asteroid)

Declension

Declension of Anna

	singular	plural
nominative	Anna	Anny
genitive	Anny	Ann
dative	Annie	Annom
accusative	Annę	Anny
instrumental	Anną	Annami
locative	Annie	Annach
vocative	Anno	Anny

Further reading

• Anna in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• Anna in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese

Proper noun

Anna f

1. a female given name; alternative spelling of Ana

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), from Biblical Hebrew חַנָּה‎ (ḥannâ, literally “grace, gracious”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈan̪ˠa/, /ˈan̪ˠə/

Proper noun

Anna f (diminutive Annag)

1. a female given name from Ancient Greek, equivalent to English Ann

Mutation

Scottish Gaelic mutation
Radical	Eclipsis	with h-prothesis	with t-prothesis
Anna	n-Anna	h-Anna	t-Anna
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Slovak

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈana]

Proper noun

Anna f (genitive singular Anny, nominative plural Anny, declension pattern of žena)

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann

Declension

Declension of Anna

	singular	plural
nominative	Anna	Anny
genitive	Anny	Anien
dative	Anne	Annám
accusative	Annu	Anny
locative	Anne	Annách
instrumental	Annou	Annami

Derived terms

• anenský
• Hana
• Anča
• Anica
• Anina
• Anuľa, Hanuľa
• Anka, Hanka
• Anička, Hanička

Further reading

• “Anna”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2023

Swedish

Etymology

First recorded as a given name in Sweden in 1291. Inherited from Old Swedish Anna, from Vulgar Latin Anna, from Ancient Greek Ἄννα (Ánna), equal to the Hebrew female name חַנָּה‎ (ḥannâ) of Old Testament, meaning "grace, gracious". Cognate with English Ann.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /²ana/

Proper noun

Anna c (genitive Annas)

1. a female given name, equivalent to English Ann
   • 1994, Marianne Fredriksson, Anna, Hanna och Johanna, Wahlström & Widstrand, published 2001, →ISBN, page 259:

     Då mindes jag Anna, den ljusa människan. Och så sa jag utan att ha tänkt att jag ville kalla flickan Anna. Mor blev glad, det såg jag nog, men hon sa att jag måste tala med Arne först.
     Han tyckte namnet var gammaldags och rejält. Så var han glad att det inte fanns i släkten.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes

• Traditionally one of the most popular Swedish names, for example the most common first name of women born in Sweden in the 1920s, the 1970s and the 1980s.

Related terms

• Anette, Anita, Anja, Ann, Anne, Anneli, Annelie, Annette, Annie, Annika, Anny

References

• Roland Otterbjörk: Svenska förnamn, Almqvist & Wiksell 1996, →ISBN
• [5] Statistiska centralbyrån and Sture Allén, Staffan Wåhlin, Förnamnsboken, Norstedts 1995, →ISBN: 302 997 females with the given name Anna living in Sweden on December 31st, 2010, with frequency peaks in the 19th century and in the 1970s. Accessed on 19 June, 2011.

Anagrams

• anan