The name Hannah stems from the Hebrew name Channah, which means “favor” or “grace.” It is a biblical name, with Hannah appearing in the Old Testament as the mother of Samuel. Today it is one of the most popular biblical names given to little girls, gaining increasing familiarity as a name appearing in television and movies quite frequently over the last 20 years.

Hannah is a popular name that has held a spot in the top 50 baby names for the past 30 years. In the late 1990s, the popularity of the name Hannah peaked significantly. It held the No. 2 spot for three years in a row and remained in the top 10 most popular names for over a decade.

  • Origin: The name Hannah comes from the Hebrew name Channah (favor, grace). It is also a biblical name from the Old Testament.Gender: Hannah is typically used as a girl name.Pronunciation: HAN-a (English), HA-na (German) HAH-na (Dutch)

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

Today, the name Hannah still ranks high in popularity, though it’s not as popular as it once was. In 2020, it was the 39th most popular name for girls.

While the name Hannah has historically been used as a girl’s name, there’s no reason you can’t use it however you believe fits best for a child of any gender.

Name Variations

There are variations of the name Hannah in Hebrew, German, and Dutch.

  • Chana (Hebrew)Chanah (Hebrew)Hanna (Hebrew, German, and Dutch)Hanne (German)

Similar Names

Other girl names from the old testament include:

  • Abigail
  • Eve
  • Delilah
  • Dinah
  • Leah
  • Michal
  • Rebekah
  • Ruth
  • Tamar

Other girls names that start with H include:

  • HadleyHarperHavanaHayleyHazelHennessyHope

Suggested Sibling Names

Some names that pair well with Hannah are:

  • AlexDanielHenryJamieMatthewNoahOliviaRachelSamSarah

Famous People Named Hannah

Because the name Hannah peaked in popularity in the late 90s, most famous Hannahs are from Gen Z.

  • Hannah Brown, season 15 “The Bachelorette” leadHannah Montana, fictional character portrayed by Miley CyrusHannah Rylee, TikTok starHannah Stocking, Instagram star

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: 

  • Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names in the U.S.
  • 100 Biblical Baby Names
  • 50 Hebrew Baby Names