Anna
Meaning: Its source is Channah, a Hebrew name meaning "Favored grace."
Though not linguistically related, Anna has been historically used as an English version of the Irish Gaelic name Aine.
Origin: "Channah."
Languages: This girl's name is used in Hebrew, German, English, Greek, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian, Russian, Polish, Serbian, Croatian, Czech, Bulgarian, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish.
Nickname For: Anastasia
Compound Forms: Annabelle, Annalee, Annalisa, Annamae, Annamaria, Annamarie, Georgeanna, Georgianna, Judyanna, Keliana, Lexanna, Lilianna, Loranna, Lorianna, Louanna, Marianna, Maryanna, Quinanna, Raeana, Raeanna, Rosanna, Solana, Tiaanna, Tianna, Glorianna, Hadrianna, Nelliana, Joananna, Annique and JasiAnna
Alternative Spellings: Ana
Source Forms: Channah
Popularity: The name Anna ranked 19th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics, 33rd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census and 37th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1994 US Census.
This name was popular earlier in the 20th century, then fell off in usage, but has begun making a comeback in recent years.
Narrative: In the Jewish scriptures, Channah, wife of Elkanah, was barren. At the temple near Shiloh, she asked God to bless her with a child, promising to dedicate her baby to His service.
Her prayer was answered, and her son Samuel was ''lent to the Lord'' for all the days of his life. Indeed, he grew up to be one of Israel's most revered prophets.
With this story in mind, some authorites translate this name as a full sentence: ''God has graced me with a son.''
Arts and Music
- Anna Botsford Comstock (born 1854, died 1930)
American illustrator
- Known for her nature drawings and her Handbook of Nature Study (see list of Graphic Designers)
- Anna Robertson ''Grandma'' Moses (born 1860, died 1961)
American folk painter.
- An untaught farm wife, she began her painting career at age 78, and produced more than 1500 paintings in the 23 years before her death (see list of 20th-century Modern Artists)
Leadership
- Anna Dosa
Greek military commander.
- Montagnard commander in the Greek Civil War; shot down strafing aircraft in the 1940s (see list of Miscellaneous Military Leaders)
- Anna G. Eshoo (born 1942)
American politician.
- Representative, D-California, 1993- (see list of Women in the House of Representatives)
- Anna Ivanovna (born 1693, died 1740)
Empress of Russia, 1730-40.
- Elected as a figurehead by the supreme council, but got rid of the council and took control (see list of Miscellaneous Political Leaders)
Miscellaneous
- Anna
Prophet in the Temple at Jerusalem; pronounced Jesus to be the Messiah.
- Appears in Luke (see list of Biblical Names from the New Testament)
- Anna Sophia Detzliffin
Eighteenth-century soldier.
- Dressed as a man, she fought as a cuirassier (horse-soldier) in the Seven Years'' War (see list of Soldiers & Swashbucklers)
- Anna Ford
- Variety of rose (see list of Rose Names)
- Anna Symmes Harrison (born 1775, died 1864)
- Wife of William Henry Harrison, 9th President (see list of United States First Ladies)
- Anna Ostberg
- Swedish model (see list of Fashion Models)
- Anna Maria Rappaport
- 1963 Mademoiselle Award winner (see list of Mademoiselle Award Winners)
Science and Philosophy
- Anna L. Fisher (born 1949, died 1982)
American astronaut.
- Astronaut on Discovery (1984) (see list of Spaceflight Veterans)
- Anna Morandi Manzolini
Italian physician.
- First licensed female physician in Italy (see list of Medical Practitioners)
Sports
- Anna Stefanie Nanny Clausen
Danish athlete.
- 1920 Olympic gold medal winner for Platform Diving (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in Platform Diving)
- Anna Seaton-Huntington
- Member of America-cubed sailing team that competed for the America''s Cup in 1995 (see list of Members of the America-cubed Yachting Team)
Stage and Screen
- Anna Maria Alberghetti (born 1936)
Italian-American singer and actress.
- 1962 Tony Award for her performances in Carnival and No Strings (see list of Tony Winners for Best Actress in a Musical)
- Dr. Anna Del Amico
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Maria Bello (see list of Characters on ''ER'')
- Anna Fassbender
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Eddra Gale (see list of Characters in the film What's New, Pussycat)
- Anna Holbrook
- Actress on soap opera ''''Another World'''' (see list of Performers on ''Another World'')
- Anna Huxtable
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Clarice Taylor (see list of Characters on ''The Cosby Show'')
- Anna Lee (born 1913)
English actress.
- Actress on soap opera ''''General Hospital'''' (see list of Performers on ''General Hospital'')
- Anna Magnani (born 1908, died 1973)
American actress.
- 1955 Academy Award winner for her performance in The Rose Tattoo (see list of Oscar Winners for Best Actress)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Anna Querentia Nilsson (born 1888, died 1974)
Swedish actress.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Anna Paquin (born 1982)
Actress.
- 1993 Academy Award winner for her performance in The Piano (see list of Oscar Winners for Best Supporting Actress)
- Anna Stuart
- Actress on soap opera ''''Another World'''' (see list of Performers on ''Another World'')
- Anna May Wong (born 1907, died 1961)
American actress. Also known as Lu Tsong Wong.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
The Literary World
- Anna Laetitia Barbauld (born 1743, died 1825)
English poet.
- Wrote ''''To a Little Invisible Being Who Is Expected Soon to Become Visible'''' (see list of Writers of the Romantic Period (1785-1830))
- Anna Hempstead Branch (born 1875, died 1937)
American poet.
- Wrote ''''The Road ''Twixt Heaven and Hell'''' (see list of Poets of the 20th Century)
- Anna Crookbrows
Fictional character.
- Midwife who delivered both Peter and Thomas and who killed Sasha in Stephen King''s novel The Eyes of the Dragon (see list of Characters in The Eyes of the Dragon)
- Anna Maria Lenngren (born 1754, died 1817)
Swedish Neoclassical poet.
- Wrote ''''Den glada festen'''' (''''The Merry Festival'''') (see list of Writers of the Restoration and 18th Century)
- Anna Norton
Fictional character.
- Susan''s mother in Stephen King''s novel Sales''s Lot (see list of Characters in Salem's Lot)
- Anna Quindlen
- 1992 Pulitzer Prize winner for Commentary (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary)
- Anna Sewell (born 1820, died 1878)
English novelist.
- Wrote Black Beauty (see list of Prose Writers of the Victorian Era)
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Teasing Nicknames:
- Anna Banana
- Annie Fannie
- Anner
- Nanna
- Nan
- Banana Rama Anna
- Nanners
- Spanner
- Anna Panna
- Anna Conda
- Anna Anna bo Bannah
- Anzies
- Annie Banannie
- Santa Anna









