Vanya is a unisex given name of Slavic origin, particularly popular among Bulgarians and Russians. It is derived from the masculine name Ivan, which itself comes from the Hebrew name John meaning "God is gracious." In Bulgaria, Vanya is traditionally considered a female name, while in Russia it can be used for both boys and girls. The shortened form of Ivan, Vanya has been widely used since the 19th century and gained prominence due to its use by prominent figures such as Vanya Tsoneva, a renowned Bulgarian actress.
The name Vanya experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the decades, with a notable increase in recent years. The peak of its popularity appears to be around the mid-2010s, reaching an all-time high of 83 births in 2020 and 81 births in 2022. However, the name's popularity has been consistently declining since 2019 when there were 72 births.