Vanya

Vanya is a Russian and South Slavic diminutive of Ivan, itself the East Slavic form of the Greek Ioannes, ultimately derived from the Hebrew Yohanan meaning God is gracious. It functions as both an affectionate short form and an independent given name across Russia, Bulgaria, and other Slavic-speaking regions. The name appears widely in Russian literature and folklore, often as an archetypal common-man figure, and gained broader international recognition through characters in works by Chekhov, most notably the play Uncle Vanya. Related forms include Ivan, Ivanka, Vania, and the Hungarian Janos.