Find out how popular the first name Hannah has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Hannah by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Hannah is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Hannah being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 4,102 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Hannah.

The history of the first name Hannah

The name Hannah is derived from the Hebrew name Channah, which originated in ancient Israel around the 11th century BCE. Channah means "grace" or "favor" in Hebrew. It first appears in the biblical Book of Samuel, referring to the mother of the prophet Samuel. Hannah was a barren woman who prayed fervently for a child, and God granted her wish by allowing her to conceive Samuel.

The name gained wider usage after the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century when it was revived as a biblical name among Protestants. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Hannah Woolley, an English writer and domestic servant born around 1622. She authored books on household management and cookery.

In the 17th century, Hannah Callowhill Penn, born in 1671, was the second wife of William Penn, the founder of the Pennsylvania colony. She played a significant role in the settlement and development of Philadelphia.

Hannah Arendt, a German-American political philosopher and theorist, was born in 1906. She is renowned for her works on political theory, including the concept of "the banality of evil" in relation to the Holocaust.

Another notable figure was Hannah Duston, an English immigrant born in 1657, who became famous for her harrowing escape from Abenaki captors during King William's War in 1697. She killed and scalped ten of her captors, an event that made her a folk hero in New England.

Hannah Wilke, an American artist born in 1940, was known for her pioneering work in feminist art and her use of unconventional materials like chewing gum and latex. She explored themes of female sexuality and the objectification of women's bodies.

The name Hannah has remained popular throughout history and has been embraced by various cultures, particularly in the Western world. Its biblical origins and association with grace and favor have contributed to its enduring appeal across generations.

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 Hannah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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