Alternatives to Hannah

Another popular name, fairly timeless (in that it has been fairly consistently popular across the centuries) name. Statistically it is # 6 in NZ, #6 in Austria, #10 in N Ireland, #10 in Scotland, #13 in England and Wales, #5 in Canada and #7 in USA. That's a lot of Hannahs.

Hannah comes from Channah meaning 'favour' or 'grace' (personally that reminds me of the grace and favour lodgers at Kensington amongst other places).

Biblically Hannah was the mother of Samuel, and one of two wives of Elkanah - the other being Penninah. Penninah was able to bear children, but Hannah had remained childless. In a plea to have a child she promised God that she would give him up to the priesthood. She went on to Samuel, who as promised, went to live with Eli the priest, and then five more children.

So, some alternatives:
1) Anna (the Latin form of Hannah) and 'Anna-' names:
Annabel
Anneliese
Annette
Anastasia
Anthea
Antonia
Annabeth
Anneka
Some '-anna' names:
Rosanna
Leanna
Joanna (or Johanna)
Marianna
Arianna
Brianna
Diana
Gianna
Janna
Roxanna

Names containing other elements of Hannah:
Bethany
Chantelle
Shannon
Siobhan
Stephanie
Savannah
Rhiannon
Hannelore
Hanneliese
Hannelien
Hannelotte

2) Similar meaning (grace or favour):
Grace:Charis
Grace
Ludmilla
The three graces: Aglaia, Euphrosyne and Thalia

Favour:Ludmilla
Tirzah
Bohumila
Jarmila

3) Random Connections:
Hester (a Babynamer on Oxygen suggestion)
Other Biblical mothers: Rachel, Leah, Sarah, Eve, Mary, Lois (a grandmother), Elizabeth, Rebecca, Naomi and Ruth