Annushka

Annushka is a Russian diminutive and pet form of Anna, which derives from the Hebrew name Channah, meaning grace or favor. The name Channah is borne in the Hebrew Bible by a woman whose fervent prayer for a child is answered with the birth of the prophet Samuel. Annushka carries the affectionate, intimate register typical of Russian diminutive forms and appears in Russian literature, most memorably as a character in Mikhail Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita. Related forms include Anya, Anyuta, and the broader international variants Anne and Anna.