Anne

Anne is the French and English form of Anna, itself the Latin and Greek rendering of the Hebrew name Channah, meaning grace or favor. The name spread widely across medieval Europe through veneration of Saint Anne, traditionally held to be the mother of the Virgin Mary, making it one of the most enduring feminine names in the Christian world. Notable bearers include Anne of Cleves, Anne Boleyn, and Anne Frank, among countless others across many centuries. Closely related forms include Anna, Ann, Hannah, and the Frisian masculine use of the name, which derives from a short form of various Germanic compound names beginning with the element arn, meaning eagle.