Hannah

Hannah Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

HAN-ah

Meaning of Hannah: Hannah is a Hebrew name derived from channah, meaning "grace" or "favor." It appears in the Old Testament as the name of the mother of Samuel, one of the most celebrated women in the Hebrew scriptures, known for her prayer for a child and her song of thanksgiving.

US Rank 2024

No. 52

Births

4,054

Peak Year

1998

In 1 Samuel, Hannah's prayer at the temple of Shiloh is among the most humanly rendered stories in the Old Testament. Her pregnancy and her vow to dedicate Samuel to God's service established Hannah as a model of faithful devotion. See etymology records.

The name was widely used in Puritan England and colonial America, where biblical female names held strong cultural authority. Hannah remained in the top 20 in the US through much of the 19th century, then declined in the early 20th century as biblical naming fell out of fashion.

What Does Hannah Mean? Origin & Etymology

A major revival began in the 1990s. Hannah entered the SSA top 10 in 1998 and peaked at rank 2 in 2000, one of the defining baby names of that decade. SSA records places it at rank 52 in 2024 with 4,054 births. Track at SSA Baby Names.

Hannah is a palindrome, reading the same forward and backward. This phonetic property is noted by parents and teachers alike, and it has given the name additional cultural cache in English-speaking contexts — a quality shared by few other common given names in the English-language tradition.

Related names include Anna (the Greek and Latin form), Anne (English short form), and Hanna (Germanic and Scandinavian alternate spelling). Chana is the modern Hebrew form widely used in Jewish communities. All forms share the same ancient Semitic root and its core meaning of divine grace.

Name day: December 9

How Popular Is Hannah?

Numerology & Symbolism of Hannah

Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.

H(8) + A(1) + N(5) + N(5) + A(1) + H(8) = 28 = 1

Destiny number

Leadership

Sum of all letters, reduced to a single digit

Soul urge

Connection

Sum of vowels only - reveals inner desires

Expression

Authority

Sum of consonants - how others perceive you

Letters 6

Vowels / consonants 2 / 4

Birthstone Ruby

Lucky color Red

1 Leadership Independent, driven, original — the initiator who forges new paths.

2 Harmony Diplomatic and cooperative, thriving through partnership and balance.

3 Expression Creative and communicative, bringing joy through art and words.

4 Stability Disciplined and dependable, building lasting structures through hard work.

5 Freedom Adventurous and adaptable, drawn to change, travel, and new experiences.

6 Nurturing Caring and responsible, focused on home, family, and community.

7 Wisdom Analytical and introspective, seeking truth through study and reflection.

8 Ambition Authoritative and goal-oriented, excelling in business and material achievement.

9 Compassion Humanitarian and idealistic, driven by a desire to serve and uplift others.

11 Intuition Master number: heightened sensitivity and spiritual insight beyond the ordinary.

22 Master Builder Master number: visionary practicality that turns ambitious dreams into reality.

33 Master Teacher Master number: selfless guidance and healing offered for the good of all.

Hannah – Similar Names & Alternatives

Isabella

From Hebrew “Elisheba” meaning my God is an oath, via…

Eliana

From Hebrew “El-Yah”: “el” (God) + “Yah” (Yahweh), meaning…

Gianna

From Hebrew “Yochanan” meaning God is gracious; Italian…

Abigail

From Hebrew “Avigayil”, a compound of “av” (father) + “gil”…

Naomi

From Hebrew “Na’omiy” meaning my pleasantness or my…

Delilah

From Hebrew “Dəlilâ” meaning delicate, weak, or…

Maya

illusion; water; great

Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity

Frequently Asked Questions about Hannah

What does Hannah mean?

Hannah means grace or favor, from Hebrew Channah (chanan = to be gracious). In 1 Samuel, Hannah’s prayer for a son was answered with Samuel, the prophet she dedicated to God’s service.

What is the origin of Hannah?

Hannah originates from biblical Hebrew Channah. Puritans adopted it in the 17th century. Hannah ranked in the US top 10 from 1994 to 2009 and peaked at rank 2 in 2000.

How popular is Hannah in the US?

Hannah ranks 52 for girls in the US as of 2024, per SSA data. It ranked in the US top 10 from 1994 to 2009. Hannah has ranked in the top 60 continuously since 1988.

What are variants of Hannah?

Variants include Hanna (German/Hebrew spelling, one n), Ana/Anna (related Greek/Latin forms), and Hana (Czech/Japanese). All trace to Hebrew Channah.

Is Hannah more popular for girls or boys?

Hannah is given almost exclusively to girls. It ranks 52 for girls in the US in 2024 and does not appear in the top 1000 boys’ names.

Hannah – Name Variants & Spellings

Variant	Language
Ann	English short form
Anne	French/English
Hanna	German/Scandinavian/Hebrew
Channah	Hebrew formal
Chana	Hebrew original form
Anna	Latin/German/Italian
Ana	Spanish/Portuguese/Romanian

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