Find out how popular the first name Ananias has been for the last 48 years (from 1976 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ananias by gender

Based on the last 48 years of data, Ananias is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 41 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Ananias.

The history of the first name Ananias

The name Ananias is derived from the Hebrew name Hananiah, which means "Yahweh has been gracious" or "favored by God." It has its roots in ancient Israel and the Hebrew language, dating back to biblical times.

The earliest known reference to the name Ananias can be found in the New Testament of the Bible. In the Book of Acts, Ananias was a disciple of Jesus who lived in Damascus and was sent by God to restore the sight of Saul, who later became the apostle Paul. This Ananias is believed to have lived in the 1st century AD.

Another notable Ananias mentioned in the Bible was a member of the early Christian church in Jerusalem. According to the Book of Acts, he and his wife Sapphira were struck dead by God for lying about their financial contributions to the church. This event is believed to have taken place around 33-35 AD.

Throughout history, the name Ananias has been used by various individuals, including:

1. Ananias of Shirak (7th century AD), an Armenian religious leader and scholar who played a significant role in the development of the Armenian Church.

2. Ananias the Defter (9th century AD), a Byzantine scholar and calligrapher known for his exceptional penmanship.

3. Ananias of Khlat (10th century AD), an Armenian philosopher and theologian who made significant contributions to the intellectual life of medieval Armenia.

4. Ananias the Eder (15th century AD), a prominent Armenian merchant and diplomat who served as a representative of the Armenian community in the Ottoman Empire.

5. Ananias Shirakatsi (16th century AD), an Armenian poet and theologian who wrote extensively on religious and philosophical themes.

The name Ananias has been used in various cultures and regions over the centuries, but its roots can be traced back to the Hebrew language and the biblical narratives of the New Testament.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ananias was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ananias, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!