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Anja
Pronounced AHN-yah /ΛΙn.jΙ/High
Meaning: Grace; a German and Scandinavian spelling of Russian Anya, the pet form of Anna, from Hebrew ChannahHigh
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Anja is how German, Dutch, and Scandinavian writers spell Anya, the Russian diminutive of Anna β the Greek form of Hebrew Channah, 'grace', borne in the Bible by the mother of the prophet Samuel and, by tradition, the mother of the Virgin Mary. Pet forms of Anna traveled west from Russia in the nineteenth century and settled in as independent names.
Anja became thoroughly mainstream across northern and central Europe in the twentieth century, a staple from Oslo to Ljubljana. In the U.S. it is an uncommon, sophisticated alternative to Anya, instantly readable yet distinctly European.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
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Anja Rubik (1983βpresent)Polish supermodel and one of the most recognizable runway faces of her generation.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Anja mean?
Anja is a German and Scandinavian spelling of Anya, the Russian pet form of Anna, which comes from Hebrew Channah and means 'grace'.
How do you pronounce Anja?
It's said AHN-yah /ΛΙn.jΙ/ β two syllables, stress on the first; the j sounds like an English y.
Is Anja a boy or girl name?
Anja is a girl's name.
How popular is Anja?
Anja is an uncommon name in the U.S. but a long-standing staple across northern and central Europe.