Fun Facts About the Name Anna
- A favorite of earlier generations: Anna appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 6 separate runs, totaling 135 years. Its last run lasted 53 consecutive years, from 1972 through 2024.
- More than 917 thousand babies named Anna: U.S. records list 917,528 babies given the name Anna from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,756 boys received the name Anna - about 1 boy for every 332 girls.
What Does the Name Anna Mean?
Anna comes from the Hebrew name חַנָּה (Ḥannāh), meaning "grace" or "favor." It belongs to the root חנן (ḥ-n-n), a verb meaning "to be gracious, to show favor" that the Hebrew Bible uses for God's favor toward people. The name passed into Greek as Ἄννα, the form found in the Septuagint and the New Testament, and from Greek into Latin as Anna. The English name Hannah is the same Hebrew name taken directly from the biblical text, while Anna reflects the Greek and Latin route; both point to the same meaning. A separate Latin name Anna existed in the Roman world - Virgil gives it to the sister of Dido in the Aeneid - and its origin is not securely known, possibly Etruscan, so it should not be merged with the Hebrew name. The similar-sounding Sanskrit word anna, "food," is unrelated.
Anna Name History & Origins
In the Hebrew Bible, Ḥannāh is the wife of Elkanah and the mother of the prophet Samuel; her story opens the first book of Samuel. When the Jewish scriptures were translated into Greek, her name was written Ἄννα, and that is the form the New Testament uses for the prophetess Anna in the Gospel of Luke. Christian use of the name grew out of these texts.
Christian tradition also gives the name to the mother of the Virgin Mary. Her story comes from the second-century Protoevangelium of James, not from the canonical Gospels, but she was widely venerated in the medieval church. In Western Europe the name settled into forms such as Anne in French and English, Anna in German, Italian, and the Scandinavian languages, and Ana in Spanish and Portuguese; Slavic languages use Анна (Anna), with the diminutive Anya. Among medieval and later bearers are Anna of Kiev, who became queen of France in the eleventh century, and the twelfth-century Byzantine historian Anna Komnene, who wrote the Alexiad.
A separate Roman feminine name Anna is recorded in Latin literature: Virgil gives it to the sister of Dido in the Aeneid. Its origin is uncertain and may be Etruscan, so it is a distinct strand from the Hebrew name, though the two came to look identical in Latin and later European use. In English, Anna and Anne have long been used side by side, while Hannah remains the direct form of the Hebrew name.
How Popular is the Name Anna?
Anna has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 135 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1972 to 2024.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #107 | 2,521 | 0.1569% |
| 2024 | #94 | 2,700 | 0.1674% |
| 2023 | #79 | 2,931 | 0.1829% |
| 2022 | #83 | 2,958 | 0.1805% |
| 2021 | #85 | 3,078 | 0.1877% |
| 2020 | #68 | 3,507 | 0.2171% |
| 2019 | #63 | 3,845 | 0.2292% |
| 2018 | #54 | 4,197 | 0.2468% |
| 2017 | #53 | 4,574 | 0.2650% |
| 2016 | #49 | 4,805 | 0.2712% |
| 2015 | #44 | 5,149 | 0.2885% |
| 2014 | #34 | 5,704 | 0.3194% |
| 2013 | #35 | 5,396 | 0.3076% |
| 2012 | #35 | 5,628 | 0.3196% |
| 2011 | #38 | 5,672 | 0.3225% |
| 2010 | #27 | 6,335 | 0.3564% |
| 2009 | #28 | 6,818 | 0.3712% |
| 2008 | #26 | 7,277 | 0.3849% |
| 2007 | #25 | 7,900 | 0.4109% |
| 2006 | #22 | 8,611 | 0.4530% |
| 2005 | #22 | 9,110 | 0.4930% |
| 2004 | #20 | 9,529 | 0.5190% |
| 2003 | #21 | 9,463 | 0.5179% |
| 2002 | #20 | 10,394 | 0.5785% |
| 2001 | #19 | 10,592 | 0.5883% |
| 2000 | #22 | 10,613 | 0.5844% |
| 1999 | #29 | 9,115 | 0.5139% |
| 1998 | #31 | 8,386 | 0.4746% |
| 1997 | #33 | 8,342 | 0.4792% |
| 1996 | #33 | 8,574 | 0.4891% |
| 1995 | #31 | 8,569 | 0.4873% |
| 1994 | #41 | 7,529 | 0.4216% |
| 1993 | #47 | 6,812 | 0.3766% |
| 1992 | #49 | 6,853 | 0.3717% |
| 1991 | #46 | 7,118 | 0.3796% |
| 1990 | #45 | 7,293 | 0.3841% |
| 1989 | #51 | 6,899 | 0.3742% |
| 1988 | #54 | 6,443 | 0.3618% |
| 1987 | #52 | 6,169 | 0.3548% |
| 1986 | #51 | 5,906 | 0.3443% |
| 1985 | #54 | 5,885 | 0.3420% |
| 1984 | #57 | 5,306 | 0.3151% |
| 1983 | #55 | 5,218 | 0.3123% |
| 1982 | #56 | 5,270 | 0.3112% |
| 1981 | #54 | 5,192 | 0.3113% |
| 1980 | #55 | 5,037 | 0.3034% |
| 1979 | #59 | 4,669 | 0.2908% |
| 1978 | #65 | 4,173 | 0.2724% |
| 1977 | #73 | 3,852 | 0.2512% |
| 1976 | #78 | 3,585 | 0.2447% |
| 1975 | #79 | 3,578 | 0.2454% |
| 1974 | #82 | 3,621 | 0.2467% |
| 1973 | #86 | 3,507 | 0.2405% |
| 1972 | #86 | 3,449 | 0.2267% |
| 1971 | #106 | 3,578 | 0.2150% |
| 1970 | #102 | 3,799 | 0.2173% |
| 1969 | #99 | 3,721 | 0.2206% |
| 1968 | #99 | 3,569 | 0.2176% |
| 1967 | #91 | 3,727 | 0.2257% |
| 1966 | #95 | 3,679 | 0.2174% |
| 1965 | #96 | 3,920 | 0.2221% |
| 1964 | #97 | 4,292 | 0.2265% |
| 1963 | #102 | 4,255 | 0.2208% |
| 1962 | #100 | 4,430 | 0.2253% |
| 1961 | #100 | 4,677 | 0.2317% |
| 1960 | #104 | 4,659 | 0.2304% |
| 1959 | #99 | 4,878 | 0.2411% |
| 1958 | #103 | 4,661 | 0.2317% |
| 1957 | #105 | 4,442 | 0.2172% |
| 1956 | #103 | 4,393 | 0.2188% |
| 1955 | #105 | 4,090 | 0.2092% |
| 1954 | #105 | 4,000 | 0.2060% |
| 1953 | #98 | 3,837 | 0.2040% |
| 1952 | #101 | 3,714 | 0.2003% |
| 1951 | #94 | 3,870 | 0.2149% |
| 1950 | #93 | 3,815 | 0.2227% |
| 1949 | #91 | 3,897 | 0.2278% |
| 1948 | #89 | 4,037 | 0.2378% |
| 1947 | #92 | 4,238 | 0.2391% |
| 1946 | #87 | 3,999 | 0.2545% |
| 1945 | #73 | 3,607 | 0.2760% |
| 1944 | #74 | 3,635 | 0.2739% |
| 1943 | #64 | 4,231 | 0.3032% |
| 1942 | #59 | 4,488 | 0.3323% |
| 1941 | #56 | 4,432 | 0.3668% |
| 1940 | #51 | 4,717 | 0.4125% |
| 1939 | #43 | 4,929 | 0.4495% |
| 1938 | #40 | 5,144 | 0.4662% |
| 1937 | #38 | 5,450 | 0.5122% |
| 1936 | #36 | 5,727 | 0.5505% |
| 1935 | #34 | 6,162 | 0.5877% |
| 1934 | #31 | 6,680 | 0.6397% |
| 1933 | #29 | 7,072 | 0.7016% |
| 1932 | #24 | 7,924 | 0.7425% |
| 1931 | #25 | 8,429 | 0.7917% |
| 1930 | #23 | 9,081 | 0.8065% |
| 1929 | #20 | 9,750 | 0.8732% |
| 1928 | #16 | 10,575 | 0.9169% |
| 1927 | #16 | 11,215 | 0.9405% |
| 1926 | #15 | 11,698 | 0.9868% |
| 1925 | #13 | 12,250 | 1.0063% |
| 1924 | #13 | 13,076 | 1.0470% |
| 1923 | #13 | 12,865 | 1.0664% |
| 1922 | #12 | 13,408 | 1.1164% |
| 1921 | #11 | 14,476 | 1.1740% |
| 1920 | #10 | 14,581 | 1.2168% |
| 1919 | #10 | 14,498 | 1.2829% |
| 1918 | #10 | 15,666 | 1.3533% |
| 1917 | #7 | 15,160 | 1.4021% |
| 1916 | #7 | 15,228 | 1.4582% |
| 1915 | #7 | 15,119 | 1.5367% |
| 1914 | #6 | 11,865 | 1.5579% |
| 1913 | #7 | 9,687 | 1.5510% |
| 1912 | #7 | 8,586 | 1.5384% |
| 1911 | #6 | 6,753 | 1.6144% |
| 1910 | #6 | 6,436 | 1.6232% |
| 1909 | #6 | 5,804 | 1.6715% |
| 1908 | #5 | 5,860 | 1.7529% |
| 1907 | #4 | 5,575 | 1.7500% |
| 1906 | #4 | 5,502 | 1.8632% |
| 1905 | #4 | 5,424 | 1.8600% |
| 1904 | #3 | 5,330 | 1.9356% |
| 1903 | #3 | 5,098 | 1.9460% |
| 1902 | #3 | 5,288 | 2.0025% |
| 1901 | #3 | 4,923 | 2.0569% |
| 1900 | #3 | 6,114 | 2.0395% |
| 1899 | #2 | 5,115 | 2.1951% |
| 1898 | #2 | 5,773 | 2.2309% |
| 1897 | #2 | 5,429 | 2.3181% |
| 1896 | #2 | 5,860 | 2.4630% |
| 1895 | #2 | 5,950 | 2.5468% |
| 1894 | #2 | 5,565 | 2.4964% |
| 1893 | #2 | 5,695 | 2.6749% |
| 1892 | #2 | 5,542 | 2.6100% |
| 1891 | #2 | 5,099 | 2.7491% |
| 1890 | #2 | 5,233 | 2.7488% |
| 1889 | #2 | 5,062 | 2.8380% |
| 1888 | #2 | 4,982 | 2.7891% |
| 1887 | #2 | 4,227 | 2.8956% |
| 1886 | #2 | 4,283 | 2.9633% |
| 1885 | #2 | 3,994 | 3.0018% |
| 1884 | #2 | 3,860 | 2.9918% |
| 1883 | #2 | 3,306 | 2.9433% |
| 1882 | #2 | 3,143 | 2.9143% |
| 1881 | #2 | 2,698 | 2.9341% |
| 1880 | #2 | 2,604 | 2.8617% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | #10,884 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #12,149 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2018 | #12,287 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #8,893 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #10,840 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #9,635 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #9,713 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #12,386 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #9,669 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #7,621 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #7,721 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #7,220 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 2007 | #7,126 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 2006 | #12,154 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2005 | #4,476 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2004 | #2,422 | 46 | 0.0023% |
| 2003 | #5,577 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #5,748 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #6,963 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2000 | #6,876 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #5,674 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1998 | #4,890 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #6,006 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #4,292 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #3,599 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1993 | #6,256 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #7,464 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #4,016 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1990 | #2,172 | 33 | 0.0016% |
| 1989 | #1,433 | 58 | 0.0029% |
| 1988 | #2,199 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1987 | #2,337 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1986 | #2,059 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1985 | #2,714 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1984 | #2,295 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1983 | #2,922 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1982 | #2,208 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1981 | #2,139 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1980 | #2,216 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1979 | #1,868 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1978 | #2,935 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1977 | #2,365 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1976 | #2,709 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1975 | #2,759 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1974 | #2,955 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1973 | #2,860 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1972 | #2,663 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1971 | #2,563 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1970 | #1,941 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1969 | #2,555 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #2,740 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1967 | #2,244 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #1,967 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1965 | #2,273 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1964 | #1,732 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1963 | #1,959 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #2,190 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1961 | #1,875 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1960 | #2,212 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1959 | #1,807 | 20 | 0.0009% |
| 1958 | #3,286 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #2,500 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1956 | #1,825 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1955 | #2,051 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1954 | #2,317 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1953 | #2,398 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #2,011 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1951 | #2,055 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1950 | #2,588 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #1,944 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1948 | #1,946 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1947 | #1,993 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1946 | #1,951 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1945 | #2,011 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1944 | #1,814 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1943 | #2,075 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1942 | #1,423 | 24 | 0.0017% |
| 1941 | #1,909 | 14 | 0.0011% |
| 1940 | #1,334 | 25 | 0.0022% |
| 1939 | #1,578 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1938 | #1,440 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1937 | #1,630 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1936 | #1,052 | 37 | 0.0036% |
| 1935 | #1,227 | 30 | 0.0029% |
| 1934 | #1,359 | 25 | 0.0024% |
| 1933 | #1,332 | 25 | 0.0025% |
| 1932 | #1,090 | 38 | 0.0036% |
| 1931 | #1,194 | 33 | 0.0032% |
| 1930 | #928 | 52 | 0.0047% |
| 1929 | #1,055 | 42 | 0.0039% |
| 1928 | #951 | 51 | 0.0046% |
| 1927 | #1,001 | 49 | 0.0043% |
| 1926 | #993 | 48 | 0.0043% |
| 1925 | #1,226 | 34 | 0.0030% |
| 1924 | #1,289 | 32 | 0.0028% |
| 1923 | #1,157 | 38 | 0.0035% |
| 1922 | #1,110 | 41 | 0.0038% |
| 1921 | #1,414 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1920 | #1,252 | 33 | 0.0031% |
| 1919 | #1,047 | 42 | 0.0043% |
| 1918 | #1,257 | 31 | 0.0031% |
| 1917 | #1,176 | 33 | 0.0036% |
| 1916 | #1,097 | 35 | 0.0039% |
| 1915 | #1,159 | 31 | 0.0037% |
| 1914 | #855 | 40 | 0.0061% |
| 1913 | #873 | 31 | 0.0060% |
| 1912 | #816 | 29 | 0.0067% |
| 1911 | #708 | 20 | 0.0089% |
| 1910 | #636 | 21 | 0.0108% |
| 1909 | #531 | 24 | 0.0146% |
| 1908 | #882 | 10 | 0.0065% |
| 1907 | #541 | 20 | 0.0136% |
| 1906 | #675 | 13 | 0.0098% |
| 1905 | #491 | 21 | 0.0159% |
| 1904 | #566 | 16 | 0.0125% |
| 1903 | #506 | 18 | 0.0151% |
| 1902 | #536 | 16 | 0.0130% |
| 1901 | #454 | 18 | 0.0169% |
| 1900 | #455 | 25 | 0.0166% |
| 1899 | #384 | 23 | 0.0217% |
| 1898 | #346 | 31 | 0.0253% |
| 1897 | #441 | 19 | 0.0169% |
| 1896 | #502 | 17 | 0.0142% |
| 1895 | #478 | 18 | 0.0153% |
| 1894 | #421 | 20 | 0.0173% |
| 1893 | #449 | 17 | 0.0151% |
| 1892 | #423 | 20 | 0.0164% |
| 1891 | #456 | 15 | 0.0148% |
| 1890 | #405 | 20 | 0.0180% |
| 1889 | #371 | 23 | 0.0208% |
| 1888 | #360 | 26 | 0.0215% |
| 1887 | #489 | 13 | 0.0128% |
| 1886 | #472 | 15 | 0.0135% |
| 1885 | #399 | 20 | 0.0186% |
| 1884 | #400 | 20 | 0.0175% |
| 1883 | #448 | 16 | 0.0153% |
| 1881 | #431 | 16 | 0.0159% |
| 1880 | #529 | 12 | 0.0109% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
