What Does the Name Anya Mean?
Anya is a girl's name of Russian origin meaning “"grace, favour".”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Anya |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Russian |
| Meaning | "grace, favour" |
| Variants | Anna, Ania, Anja, Aniya |
| Popularity | Widely used in Russia and Eastern Europe as a familiar form of Anna, and increasingly popular as a standalone name in English-speaking countries. |
The meaning and origin of Anya
The name Anya means “"grace, favour"” and has Russian origins. A Russian diminutive of Anna, which ultimately derives from the Hebrew name Hannah (חַנָּה) meaning "grace, favour." It is used as an affectionate or independent given name across Slavic countries and beyond.
Variants and related names
Anya is related to several other names you may recognize: Anna, Ania, Anja, Aniya. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Anya?
Widely used in Russia and Eastern Europe as a familiar form of Anna, and increasingly popular as a standalone name in English-speaking countries.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Anya mean?+
The name Anya means “"grace, favour"” and is of Russian origin.
What is the origin of the name Anya?+
Anya originates from Russian.
Is Anya a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Anya has trended in the US over time.
Anya by gender
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Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press