International Variations of Ann
Updated Fri Feb 16 2024
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The name of the sainted mother of the Virgin Mary was among the top girls' baby names for centuries, in both the original English Ann spelling and the French Anne. And chic international classic Anna remains in the Top 20 in many countries, including Russia, Switzerland, Sweden and Austria.
Along with Anne and Anna, other international variations of Ann in the US Top 1000 include Anya, Anais, Ana, Nina, Hanna, Anahi, Anika, and Chana. Rarer options that are common in Europe include Anouk in France, Anni in Germany, and Anita in Iceland. Famous bearers of the traditional girl name Anne or Ann include a British queen, several queen consorts (including two ill-fated wives of Henry VIII), novelist Anne Brontë, diarist Anne Frank, and Anne Shirley of L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series.
Modern parents who want to honor an Ann or Anne, but who would prefer to look beyond the classic original, have their choice of dozens of cool international versions, such as the many lovely international forms of Ann below, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
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- Anna
Origin:
Variation of Hannah, HebrewMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Anna has become the dominant form of the Ann family, offering a touch of the international to English speakers and a bit more style than the oversimplified Ann or Anne.
- Nina
Origin:
Short form of names that end in -ninaDescription:
Nina is as multiethnic as you can get: Nina is a common nickname name in Spain and Russia, a Babylonian goddess of the oceans, and an Incan goddess of fire. Here and now, it's a stylish possibility that's been underused. "Weird Al" Yankovic chose this decidedly nonweird name for his daughter.
- Anya
Origin:
Russian diminutive of AnnaMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Anya is a Russian variation of Anna, which came from the Hebrew name Hannah. Anya is the form found most frequently in Russia, Poland, and other East European countries, while Anja is the spelling usually preferred in Germany Norway, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and The Netherlands. In the Hungarian language, Anya also means mother.
- Anais
Origin:
Catalan and Provencal pet form of Hebrew AnnaMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Anais is an unusual, alluring name forever attached to the daring French-born American novelist and diarist Anais Nin (born Angela, with Anais as one of her middle names), who became the inspiration for the naming of the daughter of musician Noel Gallagher. Anais is also the name of a popular perfume.
- Anne
Origin:
French variation of English Ann and Hebrew HannahMeaning:
"grace"Description:
The name of the sainted mother of the Virgin Mary was among the top girls’ names for centuries, in both the original English Ann spelling and the French Anne. Both left the Top 100 around 1970 but Anne is still among the most classic names for girls, although others are more likely to choose the original Hannah, the Anna variation, or even Annabel or Annabella.
- Ann
Origin:
English variation of Hebrew HannahMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Ann, the name of the sainted mother of the Virgin Mary, was among the top girls’ names for centuries, in both the original English Ann spelling and the French Anne. Both left the Top 100 around 1970 and show no signs of returning, with Anne is the middle of the US Top 1000 and Ann dropped out of sight.
- Annika
Origin:
Swedish diminutive of AnnaMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Annika is a surprise hit of recent years, inspired by golfer Sorenstam; for Trekkies, it was also the name of a 'Star Trek:Voyager' character. Some people's first memory of it might be as Pippi Longstocking's friend. A nice namesake for an ancestral Ann.
- Annalise
Origin:
German, combination of Anna and LiseMeaning:
"grace and pledged to God"Description:
Variously spelled Annalise and Annaliese as well as several other forms, this is not a modern smoosh but a traditional German combo-name with a definite Heidi-esque feel.
- Anouk
Origin:
Dutch and French variation of AnnaMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Anouk, made famous by French actress Anouk Aimée, is a singular name with a lovely sound and a Bohemian feel. Anouk Aimée was born as Francoise, but adopted the first name of the character she played in her debut film.
- Hana
Origin:
Hebrew, Hawaiian, Maori, JapaneseMeaning:
"grace, work, glow, flower"Description:
Many things to many peoples: a flower name, also spelled Hanae, to the Japanese; a Czech and Polish short form of Johana; and an alternate form of the biblical name Hannah in the US. It also means "craft, work" in Hawaiian and "glow" in Maori.
- Ana
Origin:
Variation of HannahMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Confident and compact, Ana is a widely used variation of the Biblical Hannah. Favored in Spain, Slovenia, Bosnia, Portugal, and Croatia, this shorter spelling has the same substance and versatility of its longer counterparts.
- Anita
Origin:
Spanish diminutive of Ana; SanskritMeaning:
"grace; unguided"Description:
Once a Top 100 name, this Spanish diminutive of Ana still retains some of her Latin flair. A notable namesake is noted attorney Anita Hill, another is the great jazz singer Anita O'Day. Plus there's Disney cred via the lead human character in 101 Dalmatians.
- Annette
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Annette is a French diminutive of Ann which was among the first wave of widely-used girls' names from France, now neglected for so long that it's almost starting to feel stylish again.
- Anja
Origin:
Russian variation of AnnaMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Anja is one of the most internatioanl of several versions of Ann/Anna now being imported, also including Anya and Annika.
- Anoushka
Origin:
Russian, diminutive of AnnMeaning:
"grace"Description:
A lively, affectionate Russian pet name that is never given as a full name in its homeland, but has found some popularity in upper-crusty British society. It's also a surprising cultural crossover name due to its resemblance to the Indian name Anushka. British-Indian musician and composer Anoushka Shankar, daughter of Ravi, is a famous bearer.
- Hanna
Origin:
Spelling variation of HannahDescription:
This simplified version is not nearly as popular as the original (it also destroys a perfectly good palindrome), and has been on the decline in recent years.
- Áine
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"brilliance, wit"Description:
Name of a fertility goddess said to confer luck on its bearer, though to avoid confusion you may want to use the phonetic spelling Anya or Enya.
- Ona
Origin:
Lithuanian variation of Anna, Catalan diminutive of MarionaMeaning:
"grace; wave; bitter; wished-for child"Description:
One of those names with a wide array of meanings across different cultures; it's the Lithuanian form of Anna, for instance, and William Blake used it as the name of one of his mysterious, godlike characters. But it's found major popularity in Spain, where it's just outside the Top 50. It makes the Top 10 in Catalonia, being both a diminutive of Mariona and the word for "wave".
- Anahi
Origin:
TupiMeaning:
"maize or immaculate"Description:
The name of a Guaraní princess killed by Spanish conquistadors in Tupi-Guarani legend. A Ceibo tree – the national flower of Argentina – is said to have bloomed in the spot where she died.
- Annaliese
Origin:
German, combination of Anna and LieseMeaning:
"grace and pledged to God"Description:
Annaliese is a distinctly German smoosh name that's found some popularity in the US, especially with the simpler spelling Annalise.