# Hannah

/ˈhænə/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. female name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a girl or woman.

For teachers: a feminine given name of Hebrew origin. It is a palindrome, meaning it is spelled the same way forwards and backwards.

- Hannah is starting her new job at the hospital next Monday.
- The name Hannah has remained consistently popular in English-speaking countries for decades, partly due to its classic biblical roots.

### 2. biblical figure

noun · CEFR B2

a woman in the Bible who was the mother of the prophet Samuel.

For teachers: a biblical figure in the Old Testament, identified as the wife of Elkanah and the mother of the prophet Samuel.

- In the Bible, Hannah prayed for a child and later gave birth to Samuel.
- The Song of Hannah, found in the First Book of Samuel, is considered a significant piece of biblical poetry.

## Examples

- Hannah is my best friend from school.
- The teacher called Hannah to the front of the room to collect her award for the science fair.
- While the name Hannah has fluctuated in popularity over the decades, it remains a perennial favourite due to its classic sound and elegant, symmetrical spelling.

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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.