| Anna | Rebecca | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | grace, favour | To bind, to join |
| Origin | hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | AN-uh | ruh-BEK-uh |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1918 (15,666) | 1981 (16,737) |
| In 2025 | 2,521 | 872 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Anna | Rebecca |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 17,726 | 6,113 |
| 2010s | 51,326 | 17,488 |
| 2000s | 90,325 | 43,741 |
| 1990s | 78,595 | 109,721 |
| 1980s | 57,327 | 136,248 |
| 1970s | 37,813 | 137,285 |
| 1960s | 40,935 | 99,462 |
| 1950s | 41,701 | 115,690 |
| 1940s | 41,282 | 45,313 |
| 1930s | 66,598 | 12,615 |
| 1920s | 123,895 | 12,281 |
| 1910s | 118,998 | 9,474 |
| 1900s | 54,918 | 4,052 |
| 1890s | 55,261 | 3,660 |
| 1880s | 38,159 | 2,849 |
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).
Rebecca comes from the Hebrew Rivka, of debated meaning — often linked to “to bind” or read as “captivating.” In the Bible she is the wife of Isaac.
Anna is more popular than Rebecca today: about 2,521 US babies were given the name Anna in 2025, compared with 872 named Rebecca.
Anna means grace, favour (hebrew origin), while Rebecca means To bind, to join (Hebrew origin).
In US records, Anna first appears in 1880 and Rebecca in 1880, so Anna has the longer recorded history.