Vanya

Vanya is a Slavic diminutive of Ivan, itself the Russian and South Slavic form of the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning God is gracious. It developed as an affectionate short form in Russian and Bulgarian naming tradition and became so widely used that it is now treated as an independent given name in its own right. The name is associated with Ivan the Terrible and numerous other prominent Ivans throughout Russian history, lending Vanya a deeply rooted cultural resonance in the Slavic world. Related forms include Ivan, Vania, Vanko, and the Welsh Evan.