| Anna | Abigail | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | grace, favour | my father is joy |
| Origin | hebrew | hebrew |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | AN-uh | AB-ih-gayl |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1918 (15,666) | 2003 (15,932) |
| In 2025 | 2,521 | 4,941 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Anna | Abigail |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 17,726 | 37,379 |
| 2010s | 51,326 | 118,734 |
| 2000s | 90,325 | 150,926 |
| 1990s | 78,595 | 72,779 |
| 1980s | 57,327 | 20,658 |
| 1970s | 37,813 | 6,704 |
| 1960s | 40,935 | 2,411 |
| 1950s | 41,701 | 1,671 |
| 1940s | 41,282 | 647 |
| 1930s | 66,598 | 365 |
| 1920s | 123,895 | 322 |
| 1910s | 118,998 | 270 |
| 1900s | 54,918 | 136 |
| 1890s | 55,261 | 128 |
| 1880s | 38,159 | 133 |
The Greek and Latin form of Hebrew 'Channah' (Hannah), meaning grace or favour. Reached most European languages via the Greek New Testament (the prophetess Anna).
From Hebrew Avigail: av 'father' + gil 'joy, rejoicing,' usually 'my father is joy' or 'my father's joy.' Borne by one of David's wives, remembered for her wisdom and level head (1 Samuel 25). Etymology well established.
Abigail is more popular than Anna today: about 4,941 US babies were given the name Abigail in 2025, compared with 2,521 named Anna.
Anna means grace, favour (hebrew origin), while Abigail means my father is joy (hebrew origin).
In US records, Anna first appears in 1880 and Abigail in 1880, so Anna has the longer recorded history.