NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Hanah

A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace" or "favor".

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.

Hanah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Hanah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 18 births.

This profile covers 184 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 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 22% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 183 living people in the UK are called Hanah. 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

  • Hanah ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2003, when 18 girls were registered as Hanah.
  • About 183 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hanah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4843

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2003

18 births

Estimated living

183

2026

Meaning

What does Hanah mean?

The name Hanah is a Hebrew name derived from the biblical figure Hannah, who appears in the Old Testament's Books of Samuel. Hannah was the devoted wife of Elkanah and the mother of the prophet Samuel. The name is a variant spelling of the original Hebrew name Channah, which means "grace" or "favor."

In the biblical account, Hannah was initially barren but fervently prayed to God for a child. Her prayers were answered, and she conceived and gave birth to Samuel, whom she dedicated to the service of God. Hannah's story is celebrated as an example of unwavering faith and perseverance.

The name Hanah gained popularity among Jewish communities and later spread to other cultures and religions. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Old Testament, where Hannah is mentioned as the mother of Samuel, who became a prominent prophet and judge in ancient Israel.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Hanah or its variants. One example is Hanah Senesh (1921-1944), a Hungarian-born Jewish poet, and paratrooper who fought in the Jewish resistance during World War II. She was captured by the Nazis and executed for her involvement in the resistance movement.

Another famous Hanah was Hanah Javaneh (1931-2003), an Iranian actress and singer who became a prominent figure in the Iranian cinema industry during the mid-20th century. She was known for her versatile acting skills and her powerful vocal abilities.

In the religious realm, Hanah Rountre (1625-1678) was a prominent Quaker leader and preacher in England during the 17th century. She played a significant role in spreading the Quaker faith and advocating for religious tolerance.

Hanah Holborn (1902-1975) was a renowned German-American historian and scholar who specialized in the history of the Renaissance and Reformation periods. She taught at prestigious universities such as Yale and Stanford and made significant contributions to historical research.

Finally, Hanah Bouton (1892-1983) was an American aviator and one of the first women to earn a pilot's license in the United States. She was a pioneering figure in the early days of aviation and played a crucial role in promoting women's participation in the field.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Hanah throughout history, highlighting the name's rich cultural and historical significance across various contexts and eras.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Hanah over time

The chart below shows babies named Hanah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Hanah, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 18 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Hanah
0591418199620102024

Decades

Hanah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hanah 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 #4742 16 4
2010s #3755 62 10
2000s #2561 81 10
1990s #2686 25 4

Related

Names similar to Hanah

FAQ

Hanah: questions and answers

How popular is the name Hanah in the UK right now?

In 2024, Hanah was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Hanah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2003, with 18 babies registered as Hanah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Hanah?

A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace" or "favor".

How many people are called Hanah in the UK?

A total of 184 babies have been registered as Hanah across the 28 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.