Anna

Anna is the Latinate and Greek form of the Hebrew name Channah, derived from the root meaning grace or favor. In the Hebrew Bible the name belongs to the mother of the prophet Samuel, and in early Christian tradition it was assigned to the mother of the Virgin Mary, a figure whose widespread veneration helped carry the name across Europe throughout the medieval period. Its enduring popularity has produced numerous cognates and variants across languages, including Anne, Hannah, Ann, Annette, Anka, and Aina.