"God has favored me"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: English
Hannah
Pronunciation: [ h-AN-uh ]
Does Hannah flow with your last name?
A biblical classic meaning grace—and a perfect palindrome
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Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Meaning & Origin
"grace, favor of God"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: Hebrew
"gracious, merciful one"
Origin: Biblical Hebrew
Language: English
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The Story of Hannah
Hannah comes from the Hebrew Channah, meaning grace or favor from God. In the Hebrew Bible, Hannah was a woman who desperately longed for a child and prayed fervently at the temple at Shiloh. Her prayer was answered with the birth of Samuel, who became one of Israel's greatest prophets. Her song of thanksgiving in 1 Samuel 2 is one of the most beautiful poems in the Bible and is believed to have inspired the Magnificat of Mary in the New Testament. Hannah is also a perfect palindrome—it reads the same forwards and backwards.
Hannah was consistently a top-5 name in the US from the mid-1990s through the 2000s. The Disney Channel series Hannah Montana starring Miley Cyrus (2006-2011) gave it additional cultural staying power, and it remains a beloved choice that balances biblical heritage with modern accessibility.
Hannah is one of the seven prophetesses recognized in the Talmud. Her story of perseverance in prayer and ultimate blessing has made her a model of faith in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities worldwide. The name carries the rare distinction of being both deeply ancient and immediately approachable.
Historical Record
Hannah first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 441,362 babies have been named Hannah in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Hannah is past its peak , currently ranked #52 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Hannah is one of the few perfectly palindromic names in common use—it reads identically forwards and backwards
- The name has appeared in England's top 200 every decade since records began in the 16th century
- Hannah Szenes was a Jewish poet and World War II resistance fighter whose poetry is still sung on Israeli Independence Day
Hannah in Other Languages
Arabic
حنة
French
Anne
German
Hanna
Hebrew
חַנָּה
Spanish
Ana
Japanese
ハンナ
Popularity Over Time
#52
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 1998
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Hannah
H
Hannah Simone
Actor
1980
Canadian actress known for her role in the TV series New Girl
H
Hannah Gadsby
Entertainer
1978
Australian stand-up comedian known for the acclaimed Netflix special Nanette
H
Hannah Arendt
Writer
1906
German-American philosopher and political theorist, author of The Origins of Totalitarianism and Eichmann in Jerusalem
H
Hannah (Biblical Matriarch)
Religious
Mother of the prophet Samuel in the Hebrew Bible, renowned for her prayer of faith at the temple of Shiloh
H
Hannah Horvath Fictional
Other
Protagonist of the HBO series Girls, played by Lena Dunham—an aspiring writer navigating life in New York City
H
Hannah Montana Fictional
Entertainer
Pop star alter ego of Miley Stewart in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana, played by Miley Cyrus
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Compare Hannah with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #52
- Total SSA Count
- 4,054
- Cultural Origins
- Hebrew English German Scandinavian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Popular in These States
Top states by rank · 2024
Common Nicknames
Han
Annie
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Hannah
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sounds Like Hannah
Phonetic neighbors that share Hannah's rhythm, vowel shape, or consonant cluster. Tap any name to see its full "names like" list.
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Hannah is also used as a boy name, ranked #15673.
View Hannah as a boy name →Similar Names
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Compare Hannah with...
Same Origin Names (Hebrew)
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Valerie
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Latin Valerius origin
"valor, strength"
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Eleanor
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Old French origin
"bright, shining one"
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Frequently Asked Questions About Hannah
What does the name Hannah mean?
"God has favored me" (from Hebrew). "grace, favor of God" (from Hebrew). "gracious, merciful one" (from Biblical Hebrew). Hannah comes from the Hebrew Channah, meaning grace or favor from God. In the Hebrew Bible, Hannah was a woman who desperately longed for a child and prayed fervently at the temple at Shiloh. Her prayer was answered with the birth of Samuel, who became one of Israel's greatest prophets. Her song of thanksgiving in 1 Samuel 2 is one of the most beautiful poems in the Bible and is believed to have inspired the Magnificat of Mary in the New Testament. Hannah is also a perfect palindrome—it reads the same forwards and backwards.
What is the origin of the name Hannah?
Hannah has Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew, English, German, and Scandinavian origins. In Hebrew, it means "God has favored me". In Hebrew, it means "grace, favor of God". In Biblical Hebrew, it means "gracious, merciful one".
Is Hannah a boy or girl name?
Hannah is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #52. As a boy name, it is ranked #15673. Hannah is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Hannah?
Hannah is pronounced h-AN-uh.
How popular is the name Hannah?
Hannah is currently ranked #52 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Hannah?
Common nicknames for Hannah include Han and Annie.
What are good middle names for Hannah?
Popular middle name pairings include Hannah Grace, Hannah Marie, Hannah Elizabeth, Hannah Rose, Hannah Joy, Hannah Leigh, and Hannah Mae.
What are good sibling names for Hannah?
Names that pair well with Hannah as siblings include Elijah, Noah, Abigail, Sarah, Luke, Naomi, and Caleb.
How many syllables does Hannah have?
Hannah has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Hannah a common or rare name?
Hannah is a very popular name, ranked #52 among girl names in the United States.
What girl names are similar to Hannah?
Browse all middle names, sibling names, or similar names.
About the Name Hannah
Hannah is a girl name with Hebrew, English, German, and Scandinavian origins . The name means "God has favored me" in Hebrew .
Is Hannah a boy or girl name? Hannah is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #52 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #15,673. Hannah is more commonly used as a girl name.
Hannah is currently ranked #52 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Hannah has 2 syllables and is pronounced h-AN-uh, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Hannah include Han and Annie. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Hannah include Hanna, Hannia, Hanny . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis