Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Anya

Anya is the Russian diminutive of Anna. Anna is the Latin variant of the Hebrew girl’s name Hannah (meaning “God has favored me”). The name Hannah comes from the Bible (1 Samuel 1:2). She is the mother of the great Israeli prophet Samuel. Unable to bear children “because the Lord closed her womb,” Hannah prays to God for a son promising to “give him to the Lord all the days of his life.” By the ‘grace’ of God, He eventually ‘favors’ Hannah with a son, and hence the meaning of the name. In Latinate form, the name became Anna, losing the original 'H' at both ends. Anna also appears briefly in the New Testament (Gospel of Luke) belonging to a devoutly religious prophetess who recognized the baby Jesus as the Messiah. It is often thought, and still believed in Christian tradition, that Anna was the mother of the Virgin Mary (and hence the grandmother of Jesus), but this is not supported in the Bible. The name Anna has been in use since the Middle Ages when many French nuns adopted the name. The Russians, influenced by the Christian Byzantium Empire as well as by their own Jewish populations, adopted the name in their own form: Anya.

All About the Baby Name – Anya

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME ANYA

The number Five personality loves the excitement of life and can easily adapt to all situations. As natural adventurers, these personalities thrive on the new and unexpected and prefer to be in constant motion. It makes them feel alive. They'll stir up some action if there's not enough around, and as inherent risk-takers they enjoy pushing the envelope. Naturally rebellious, the Five personality has no fear and never resists change.  Traveling and new experiences feed their souls. Fives are very social and attract friends with ease. People love to be around the Five fun-loving and exciting energy.  This is also a lucky number in numerology (like the Threes), so fortune seems to shine on them, helped along by their own optimism and good-nature. Fives have a quick wit, a cerebral mind, and are generally very persuasive. 

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME ANYA

Anya first appeared on the U.S. female naming charts in 1980, although she would fall on and off the charts at barely detectable levels until the 21st century. In the past 10+ years, Anya has climbed in popularity going from relative obscurity to light-moderate usage. The name has a distinctive Russian quality (Annushka is another Russian variant of this pretty name). Anya is also a very popular choice among Indians in the United States (i.e., from India as opposed to Native American Indians). Apparently Aanya is the Indian equivalent of Anna (like Anya is the Russian equivalent). It is also said to mean "inexhaustibleness" in Sanskrit which we were unable to confirm, although felt this was a fitting definition given Anya is a Number Five in numerology (i.e., lots of energy!). Princess Anya was also the name of the character played by Audrey Hepburn in the 1953 romantic-comedy film “Roman Holiday” adding a little royal currency to this cosmopolitan name. Anya makes Annie more sophisticated and elegant, and Anya makes Anna worldlier somehow. Anya is pretty, delicate and charming. Since Hannah and Anna are both such hugely popular names in America right now, we think Anya might be an alternative worth considering. Anya can also be considered a pet form of Tanya.

Quick Facts

ON ANYA

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

Russian

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

444

PRONUNCIATION:

AHN-ya

SIMPLE MEANING:

Gracious, God has favored me

Characteristics

OF ANYA

Freedom-loving

Adventurous

Adaptable

Intellectual

Easygoing

Progressive

Sensual

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Anya

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME ANYA

Anya is a character in Anton Chekhov’s 1904 play, The Cherry Orchard. She is the seventeen year old daughter of Madame Ranevskaya, who arrives home to Russia from Paris with her mother to find that their family estate, including their beloved cherry orchard, is set to be auctioned for debt. Anya is a beautiful and virtuous young girl who tries her best to comfort her mother. Madame Ranevsky is ineffectual, affected as she is by the deaths of her husband and a son, and incapable of making a concerted effort to save her land. Anya is in love with Peter Trofimov, a radical leftist student, emblematic of the beginnings of change within Czarist society. When, through procrastination and inactivity, the estate is sold to a former serf, it is Anya herself who looks toward the future with unbridled eagerness and the glowing hopes of youth. This is not the terrible loss for her that it is for her mother, who immediately repairs back to Paris. As empathetic as she is, young Anya is still ready to get on with life, embrace it in all its shadings and make the most of it. No wonder Trofimov calls her “my sunshine, my spring”.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME ANYA

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Anya


Popular Songs

ON ANYA

Anya
a song by Deep Purple

Famous People

NAMED ANYA

Anya Ayoung-Chee (Project Runway designer)
Anya Corke (Hong Kong chess Grand mistress)
Anya Gallaccio (Scottish artist)
Anya Hindmarch (British accessory designer)
Anya Kamenetz (writer)
Anya Rozova (America's Next Top Model)
Anya Marina (singer-songwriter)
Anya Monzikova (model from Deal or No Deal)
Anya Seton (author)
Anya Taranda (model)
Anya Teixeira (photographer)
Anya Major (model)

Children of Famous People

NAMED ANYA

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Anya

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME ANYA

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Anya