Anja

Anja is a Scandinavian, German, Dutch, and South Slavic short form of Anna, which derives from the Hebrew name Channah, meaning grace or favour. The name spread across Europe through the veneration of Saint Anne, the traditional name of the mother of the Virgin Mary in Christian tradition. It is particularly common in Germany, the Netherlands, and the Nordic and former Yugoslav countries. Closely related forms include Anya, Ania, and Annja, all ultimately tracing back to the same Hebrew root.