How to say it
AN · ya
/ˈɑːn.jə/
Feminine
Anya
Grace
What it means
A Russian and Slavic form of Anna, from the Hebrew Hannah, 'grace' or 'favor.'
Anya is the Russian and wider Slavic pet form of Anna, which goes back to the Hebrew Hannah, 'grace.' It long ago became a name in its own right and travels easily into English, soft and quick. The lost princess Anya in the Anastasia story and actress Anya Taylor-Joy keep it visible. Said AHN-yah. It sits in the broad Anna family with Ana and Anaïs.
Popularity over time
peaked at #363 in 2009, currently #375 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
AHN-yah.
- Spelling
The Russian/Slavic form of Anna, 'grace.'
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Anya Taylor-Joy actress (The Queen's Gambit)
Spelling variants
- Ania
- Anja
- Aanya
Names with the same feeling
See Anya from another angle
By meaning