# anna

/ˈænə/ (US) · /ˈænɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/anna
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. female name

noun · CEFR A1

a very common name for a woman or girl.

For teachers: a female given name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'grace' or 'favour', widely used across many cultures.

- Anna is starting her new job at the hospital tomorrow morning.
- The protagonist, Anna, navigates the complexities of nineteenth-century society with a resilience that defines the entire novel.

### 2. historical coin

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

an old coin from India that was worth one-sixteenth of a rupee.

For teachers: a former currency unit of India and Pakistan, representing one-sixteenth of a rupee. The term is now obsolete in official contexts but survives in historical literature.

- The museum displayed an old silver anna from the nineteenth century.
- The ledger recorded the transaction in rupees and annas, reflecting the colonial monetary system of the period.

## Examples

- Anna is my sister's name.
- The teacher called on Anna to answer the question about the history of the city.
- While the name Anna remains a perennial favourite in many cultures, its popularity often fluctuates according to regional naming trends and historical influences.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.