Anna

The numbers tell a remarkable story of endurance: Anna has never left the American top 200 names since records began, and with nearly a million bearers since 1880, it ranks among the most steadfast girls' names in U.S. history. At its peak in 1918, more than 15,000 newborns were named Anna, reflecting its deep roots in immigrant families from across Europe. Today, roughly 2,500 Annas arrive each year, a number that has dipped about 22% from five years ago, suggesting a gentle retreat from its modern heights in the early 2000s.

Anna derives from the Hebrew name Hannah, meaning "grace" or "favor," and its biblical credentials are strong—the mother of the Virgin Mary in Christian tradition and a devout prophetess in the Gospel of Luke. The name appears across cultures and centuries, from the Russian empress Anna Pavlovna to the doomed Anna Karenina in Tolstoy's novel, and from the stoic Anna in Disney's Frozen to the pioneering physician Anna Bågenholm. Its sound is soft but not weak, classic without being fussy—a two-syllable name that works as easily in English, Spanish, German, or Hindi. For parents who like Anna's timeless appeal but want alternatives, consider the similar Hannah (its direct Hebrew counterpart), Elena (equally international and graceful), or Emma (a modern favorite with the same open vowel start).