Anna is a name of Latin origin that has been popular throughout history and across various cultures. It is derived from the Latin word "Annus," which means "year" or "grace." Anna was originally used as a feminine form of Annus, and it has been associated with various saints in Christianity, including Saint Anne, who is believed to be the mother of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
In different languages and cultures, Anna has been adapted and translated in various ways. For example, in Hebrew, it is spelled "Channah," which means "grace." In Russian, it is written as "Anna" but pronounced as "Ah-nah," and in Swedish, it is spelled "Anna" but pronounced as "Ahn-na."
The name Anna has been popular throughout history and continues to be a widely used name today. It was particularly prevalent during the Middle Ages in Europe, when it was often used as a diminutive of other names such as AnnaMaria or Annalisa. In recent years, Anna has also become increasingly popular as a given name for girls, ranking among the top 100 most popular names in many countries.
Overall, Anna is a classic and timeless name that has been beloved by people around the world for centuries. Its Latin origin gives it a sense of history and tradition, while its meaning of "grace" lends it a gentle and elegant quality. Whether used as a given name or a surname, Anna remains a beautiful and meaningful choice.
Here are some interesting statistics about the name Anna:
The name Anna has been consistently popular throughout the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries in the United States, with its peak popularity occurring between 1912 and 1918. During this period, over 14,000 babies were named Anna annually, reaching a high of 15,666 births in 1918.
However, there was a significant decline in the usage of the name Anna from the late 1920s to the mid-1970s. In 1930, for example, only 9,080 babies were named Anna, and this number continued to decrease until it reached its lowest point of 3,449 births in 1972.
Since then, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of the name Anna. Starting from the late 1970s, the number of babies named Anna began to increase steadily again. The name's popularity peaked once more in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, with over 6,000 births annually.
However, since the early 2000s, there has been another decline in the usage of the name Anna. In recent years, the number of babies named Anna has fluctuated between around 3,000 to 4,000 births per year.
In total, from 1880 to 2023, approximately 909,456 babies have been named Anna in the United States.