Anna
Anna comes from the Hebrew "Hannah," meaning grace or favor. In the biblical narrative, Hannah was the mother of Samuel, who prayed for a child and promised him to God's service. The Greek Old Testament rendered the name as "Anna," and the Latin Vulgate carried it forward. Saint Anna was traditionally the name of the Virgin Mary's mother, which gave the name immense Christian prestige. Anna is one of the few names that has been popular in essentially every European language for over a thousand years. It has been in the US top 100 every year since 1880. The name crosses denominations (Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox) and crosses borders (Anne, Ana, Anya, Annika, Anouk). Few names have this universality. What I love about Anna is its simplicity. Four letters, two syllables, no complications. It sounds clean in every language. Anna Karenina, Anna Freud, Anna Pavlova, Anna May Wong — the name has been carried by remarkable women across every field. It is a name that does not need to prove anything. Anna is a female name of Hebrew origin that means "Grace, favor (from Hannah)". Timeless, graceful, and quietly capable. The name sounds clean. Annas are often more interesting than their unassuming name suggests. US top 100 every year since 1880. Currently top 50. Well-known people named Anna include Anna Karenina (fictional), Anna Freud (psychoanalyst), Anna Pavlova (ballerina), Anna May Wong (actress), Anna Wintour (editor). Common variations and related forms of Anna include Anne (French/English), Ana (Spanish/Portuguese), Anya (Russian), Annika (Scandinavian), Anouk (Dutch).