Holding steady, #10,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Sanna since 1894
Babies named Sanna per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2008, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Sanna's real moment was 1894.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 7 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 0 |
| 1920s | 5 |
| 1930s | 19 |
| 1940s | 45 |
| 1950s | 68 |
| 1960s | 35 |
| 1970s | 67 |
| 1980s | 92 |
| 1990s | 100 |
| 2000s | 136 |
| 2010s | 88 |
| 2020s | 69 |
Meaning & origin
Sanna is a short and sweet name with roots in both Hebrew and Scandinavian traditions. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1894, its peak year, though it has never been widespread. With its latest rank at 10,917 (2025) and a frequency of roughly 1 in 200,908 births, it remains an uncommon choice. The name has maintained a stable trajectory over the decades, never experiencing a revival but also never vanishing. It is most likely encountered in families with Scandinavian or Finnish heritage. Sanna's simplicity and melodious sound make it a straightforward yet distinctive option, carrying the meaning 'lily' from its Hebrew source and a touch of Nordic charm.
Sanna originated as a short form of Susanna (Hebrew Shoshannah, 'lily'), used extensively in Scandinavia and Finland. In Nordic countries, it became an independent given name in the 19th century, particularly in Sweden and Finland, where it is also associated with the Swedish word 'sann' meaning 'true.'
“Sanna” around the world
Where Sanna lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: San, Sanni
Sibling names for Sanna
Names that share Sanna's style, for a brother or sister.
