Hanna

Hanna is a given name and surname used in various cultures. It is a spelling variant of Hannah, which in turn derives from the Hebrew name Chanah, often translated as “grace” or “favor.” The form Hanna is common in several European and Middle Eastern communities and is used predominantly as a feminine given name, though surname use is independent of gender in many cases.

As a given name, Hanna appears in many languages and has multiple cultural associations, sometimes reflecting local pronunciation and naming practices. As a surname, Hanna occurs in English-speaking countries and elsewhere, sometimes as a reduced form of longer names or as an independent family name.

In arts and media, Hanna has appeared as a title. The 2011 film Hanna, directed by Joe Wright, follows a teenage girl trained to be an assassin and stars Saoirse Ronan and Cate Blanchett. A television series, also titled Hanna, premiered in 2019 on Amazon Prime Video. Developed by David Farr and produced by various companies, the series expands on the film’s premise and stars Esme Creed-Miles as the title character, with additional cast including Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman in later seasons.

Geographically, Hanna is also used as a place name in several countries, reflecting its use as both a given name and a surname.