UK name, mostly girls
Hanaan
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "tenderness, affection".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 26 boys.
Hanaan is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Hanaan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 10 births.
This profile covers 128 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 127 living people in the UK are called Hanaan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Hanaan ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 10 girls were registered as Hanaan.
- • Hanaan is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 127 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hanaan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 83.1% of Hanaan registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
10 births
Estimated living
127
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Hanaan
In England and Wales birth records, Hanaan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 16.9% of registrations are for boys and 83.1% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Hanaan registered for boys
- Ranked #3,990 in 2021
- 4 boys registered in 2021
- Peak: 2005 (5 births)
Hanaan registered for girls
- Ranked #5,891 in 2024
- 3 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2003 (10 births)
Meaning
What does Hanaan mean?
The name Hanaan has its roots in the Semitic languages, particularly Arabic and Hebrew. It is derived from the word "hanna," which means "grace" or "favor." The name can be traced back to ancient times and has been used in various cultures and regions throughout history.
In Arabic, the name Hanaan is spelled حنان and is a feminine name that signifies tenderness, compassion, and kindness. It is a popular name among Arab communities and has been used for centuries. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the 7th century, during the Islamic Golden Age.
In Hebrew, the name Hanaan is spelled חנן and has a similar meaning to the Arabic version. It is a masculine name that is derived from the root word "hanan," which means "to be gracious" or "to show favor." The name is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and has been used by Jewish communities for thousands of years.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Hanaan was Hanaan ben Aharon, a prominent Jewish scholar who lived in the 7th century CE in Babylon. He was known for his expertise in the Talmud and Jewish law.
Another notable figure was Hanaan al-Rasheedi, an Arab poet who lived in the 8th century CE during the Abbasid Caliphate. He was renowned for his eloquent and influential poetry, which often celebrated the beauty of nature and the virtues of kindness and compassion.
In the 12th century, there was a famous Jewish philosopher and theologian named Hanaan ben Menachem, who lived in Spain during the Golden Age of Jewish culture in Muslim Iberia. He wrote extensively on topics such as ethics, metaphysics, and the reconciliation of faith and reason.
During the Ottoman Empire, a prominent Turkish scholar and historian named Hanaan Efendi lived in the 16th century. He was known for his extensive writings on Ottoman history, culture, and governance.
In more recent times, Hanaan Ashrawi, a Palestinian scholar and diplomat, has been a prominent figure in the Palestinian liberation movement and has advocated for peace and human rights. She was born in 1946 and has served as a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and as a member of the Palestinian delegation to the Middle East peace process.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Hanaan. The name's rich heritage and meaningful connotations of grace, kindness, and compassion have made it a cherished name across various cultures and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hanaan over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Hanaan in England and Wales, from 1997 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Hanaan, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hanaan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hanaan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4407 | 24 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3728 | 53 | 9 |
| 2000s | #3244 | 44 | 7 |
| 1990s | #3537 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Hanaan
- Hannah 67,635
- Holly 52,307
- Harriet 24,781
- Hollie 17,902
- Harper 15,784
- Heidi 12,675
- Hallie 9,873
- Hope 9,414
- Hayley 5,968
- Hazel 5,954
- Hanna 5,735
- Heather 5,497
FAQ
Hanaan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hanaan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Hanaan was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Hanaan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 10 babies registered as Hanaan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hanaan?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "tenderness, affection".
How many people are called Hanaan in the UK?
A total of 128 babies have been registered as Hanaan across the 23 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.