Vanja

Vanja is a South Slavic and Scandinavian given name that functions as a diminutive of Ivan, itself the South Slavic and Russian form of John, which traces back through Latin Iohannes and Greek Ioannes to the Hebrew Yohanan, meaning God is gracious. In Slavic-speaking regions it is used for both males and females, while in Scandinavia it is predominantly a feminine name, having been adopted into Swedish and Norwegian use largely through literary and cultural influence. The name gained particular prominence through August Strindberg's play Miss Julie and Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, the latter spelling representing a Russian diminutive of the same root. Related forms include Ivan, Ivana, Vanya, and Jana.