Hannah's International Versions

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.

This spin on the popular Hannah is widely-used in Europe and pronounced similarly to Hannah. It may also be a short form of Johanne, from John/Joan.

Finnish diminutive of Hannah or Johanna

A sweet name with many cross-cultural ties: it's an equivalent of Jane in languages including Czech, Slovak, Dutch, German, Slovene, Catalan, Estonian, and Latvian.

Niina is a beautiful Finnish variation of Nina, though it's also used in Estonia and other Baltic regions. The doubled 'i' creates a distinctive spelling while maintaining the same pronunciation as Nina in most cases. With roots in multiple languages, Niina carries various meanings including 'grace' from its Spanish connections and 'strong' or 'mighty' from its Slavic origins. In Nordic countries, the name has been consistently popular since the mid-20th century, appreciated for its simple elegance and international appeal. Niina strikes a perfect balance between familiarity and uniqueness, offering a slightly uncommon spelling of a recognized name. Though more prevalent in Finland and neighboring countries, Niina has gained modest recognition globally as parents seek names with cross-cultural significance and distinctive character.

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".

Panna is a name with many allusions — in addition to being a Hungarian variant of Anna (PAWN-naw) and a Hindi gemstone name (PAHN-nah), it is also a serene and sacred city in India and the Italian word for cream (PA-nuh). Panna might make a fresh alternative to Anna or Hannah.