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Anya

♀ Girl

Pronounced AHN-yah /ˈɑːn.jə/High

Meaning: Russian and Eastern European diminutive of Anna, from Hebrew Hannah, meaning 'grace', 'favor', or 'God has favored me'.High

In 30 seconds: Anya is the Russian diminutive of Anna, meaning 'grace'. Warm, mysterious, and beautifully Slavic, it carries the literary and artistic soul of Russian culture in just two syllables.
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Origin HighRussian, Hebrew
MeaningRussian and Eastern European diminutive of Anna, from Hebrew Hannah, meaning 'grace', 'favor', or 'God has favored me'.
U.S. rank (2025)#375 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births821 girls (0.05% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2007
Total births (all-time)≈ 20,559

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200719432025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Anya is the Russian and Eastern European diminutive of Anna, itself from the Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or God's favor. In Russian, Anya (Аня) is the affectionate everyday short form of Anna (Анна), used informally by family and friends. It appears throughout Russian literature and culture as both a nickname and a standalone name.

Anya entered the English-speaking world as a given name in the twentieth century, appreciated for its exotic Slavic sound and simple elegance. It appears in Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard as a character name. In the United States, Anya has been growing since the 1990s and entered the top 500 girls' names, particularly appealing to parents who want a distinctive alternative to Anna or Hannah.

Did you know? Anya is the name of the main character in the animated film Anastasia (1997) — the young woman who believes she may be the lost Russian princess. Though fictional in that film, the name's Russian royal associations are entirely genuine.
Overall data confidence 93%
Behind the Name: Anya — Russian diminutive history and Hebrew Anna etymologySocial Security Administration Name Data — US popularity trends for Anya

Variations

AnjaAniyaAnia

Nicknames

AnyA

Famous Bearers

  • ★Anya Taylor-Joy (1996–)
    British-Argentine actress known for The Queen's Gambit and The Menu.

If you like Anya…

Nina— two-syllable Russian and European diminutive name with the same warm, exotic Slavic quality
Vera— two-syllable Slavic/Latin name with the same minimal, elegant Eastern European charm
Sasha— two-syllable Russian diminutive used as a standalone name with the same warm Slavic intimacy

Frequently Asked

What does the name Anya mean?

Anya means 'grace' or 'favor', as the Russian diminutive of Anna, from Hebrew Hannah.

How do you pronounce Anya?

Anya is pronounced AHN-yah (/ˈɑːn.jə/), two syllables with stress on the first. The 'ny' represents a palatalized n sound.

Is Anya a boy or girl name?

Anya is a girl's name.

How popular is Anya?

Anya has been growing in the US top 500 girls' names since the 1990s and is rising, boosted partly by actress Anya Taylor-Joy.