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Discover the meanings of thousands of Biblical names in Abarim Publications' Biblical Name Vault: Anna

Anna meaning

Anna in Biblical Greek
Αννα
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Source: https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Anna.html

🔼The name Anna: Summary

Meaning
Favor, Grace
Etymology
From the verb חנן (hanan), to be gracious.
Related names
• Via חנן (hanan): Ananias, Annas, Baal-hanan, Ben-hanan, Elhanan, Elonbeth-hanan, Hanan, Hananel, Hanani, Hananiah, Hannah, Hannathon, Hannibal, Hanniel, Hanun, Hen, Henadad, Jannai, Jannes, Jehohanan, Joanna, Joanan, Johanan, John, Jonan, Tahan, Tehinnah

🔼The name Anna in the Bible

The name Anna shows up only once in the Bible. She is a prophetess in Jerusalem who testifies about the identity of the infant Jesus, together with a male prophet named Simeon. Both Simeon and Anna are well advanced in years, but of Anna we know that she a daughter of Phanuel of Asher, and that she was a widow whose marriage lasted only seven years (Luke 2:36).

🔼Etymology of the name Anna

The name Anna is probably the Greek version of the Hebrew name Hannah. Both come from the common Hebrew verb חנן (hanan), meaning to be gracious or to be compassionate:

Excerpted from: Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary
חנן

The verb חנן (hanan) means to be gracious or to favor. Nouns חן (hen), חנינה (hanina), תחנה (tehinna) and תחנון (tahanun) mean favor or grace. Adverb חנם (hinnam) means freely or gratis, and adjective חנון (hannun) means gracious.

— See the full Dictionary article —

However, it should be noted that the name Anna could also be construed as a transliteration of אנא ('anna'), which is an emphasized particle of entreaty:

Excerpted from: Abarim Publications' Biblical Dictionary
אנא

The particle אנא ('anna') exclaims grief by combining אח ('ah), "ah!" with נא (na), "please." It also resembles אנה ('ana I), to mourn.

— See the full Dictionary article —

🔼Anna meaning

It's pretty safe to conclude that the name Anna means Favor or Grace, but it also means Ah! Now!.