Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Nanna

There are two possible etymological origins for the female name Nanna. For Jewish people, Nanna developed as a diminutive or pet form of Channah (from the root Chanan) meaning “grace, favor, kindness” (the same root that gave English-speakers the female names Hannah and Anna). In the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament, Channah (Hannah) is the mother of Samuel (see the name page “Chana” for more details). Alternately, Nanna is considered a Scandinavian name, from the Old Norse “nanþ” meaning “daring” (perhaps related to Old English neðan, and the ancient Germanic nendan "to risk, venture"). In Norse mythology, Nanna was a beautiful Scandinavian goddess and the wife of Balder (son of Odin and Frigg). When Balder is killed by Loki with a mistletoe twig, Nanna dies of a broken heart. She is laid beside her husband on his great ship, the Hringhorni, which is ceremoniously set afire and pushed out to sea. The two are reunited in “Hel” (the Old Norse underworld). Nanna is not a common name among English-speakers, but it is used with a fair amount of regularity in Scandinavia; particularly Denmark where it’s ranked on the Top 30 list of preferred baby girl names.

All About the Baby Name – Nanna

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME NANNA

The number Eight personality has everything to do with power, wealth and abundance. Somehow, this personality has been blessed on the material plane, but their authoritative and problem-solving traits provide evidence that their good fortunes are not just the luck of the lottery. They are well earned. This is the personality of CEOs and high-ranking military personnel. Eights are intensely active, hard-driving individuals. Success is only meaningful to them after a job well-done.  They are remarkable in their ability to see the larger picture right down to the smallest details, and organize a strategy around success. They then have the ability to direct a group around them toward any goal, and realize individual potential to get the most out of their team.

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME NANNA

Nanna is definitely a rare name by American standards. It is so uncommon that we were unable to find any evidence of it being used as a first name on the naming lists recorded by the Social Security Department in the past 130+ years. So if Nanna is ever bestowed in the United States, it is done so less than five times per year. Not the case in Scandinavia, however, where Nanna remains quite familiar. We also think it’s a sweet, colloquial form of Chana (Hebrew for Hanna). One of the reasons Americans and other English-speakers don’t use the name Nanna is because it’s too closely related to our words “nanny” and “nana” which we borrowed from the Greek word “nanna” meaning “aunt”. From this perspective, the name probably feels to “grandmotherly” for the average U.S. parent.

Quick Facts

ON NANNA

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

Hebrew

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

N/A

PRONUNCIATION:

NAH-nah

SIMPLE MEANING:

Grace, favor, kindness (Hebrew); Daring (Nordic)

Characteristics

OF NANNA

Authoritative

Powerful

Tough

Tenacious

Wealthy

Problem-solver

Achiever

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Nanna

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME NANNA

We cannot find any significant literary characters by the name of Nanna

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME NANNA

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Nanna


Popular Songs

ON NANNA

We cannot find any popular or well-known songs with the name of Nanna


Famous People

NAMED NANNA

Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir (Icelandic musician)
Nanna Lüders Jensen (Danish musician)

Children of Famous People

NAMED NANNA

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

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME NANNA

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