"For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Hannah Meaning in the Bible
Hannah
girl
Hannah means "grace" or "favor," a Hebrew name. In the King James Bible, Hannah is the mother of the prophet Samuel. After years of barrenness she prayed at Shiloh, and later said, "For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition" (1 Samuel 1:27).
Is Hannah in the Bible?
Yes — Hannah appears in the King James Bible, including 1 Samuel 2:1.
Pronunciation:/HAN-uh/
OriginHebrew
MeaningGrace; Favor
What does Hannah mean?
Hannah is a girl name of Hebrew origin meaning "Grace; Favor". Hannah means "grace" or "favor" in Hebrew, and her story beautifully illustrates the meaning of her name. Hannah was a woman of deep faith who endured years of barrenness and the taunts of her husband's other wife, Peninnah.
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Editor’s reflection
'Grace' or 'favour' — the name of a woman whose silent prayer was mistaken for drunkenness.
Hannah (חַנָּה, Channah) comes from chen, 'grace, favour, charm' — the same root behind Johanan/John ('the LORD is gracious') and Hananiah. It is also the source of Anna, Anne, Ann, Nancy, and Hana. The Greek New Testament form appears in Luke 2:36 as Anna the prophetess.
1 Samuel 1 gives her the most detailed prayer scene involving a woman anywhere in the Bible. Childless and provoked yearly by her husband's other wife, she prays at Shiloh 'in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard' — and Eli the priest, watching, assumes she is drunk. Her answer is one of the great quiet rebukes in Scripture: 'I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit... I have poured out my soul before the LORD' (1 Samuel 1:15).
Jewish tradition draws its rules for personal prayer from this passage: prayer of the heart, spoken with the lips, audible to no one but God. That is a remarkable inheritance for a scene the priest initially misread.
Her song in 1 Samuel 2 — 'My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted' — is the direct model for Mary's Magnificat in Luke 1. Two mothers, roughly a thousand years apart, sing the same reversal: the mighty brought down, the hungry filled. Hannah has held a top-100 US position for over forty years, and its palindrome spelling is a small extra pleasure.
“For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him.”
Why parents choose Hannah today
- •Meaning 'grace' — the root behind Anna, Anne, and John
- •Her prayer shapes the Jewish and Christian pattern for private prayer
- •Her song is the model for Mary's Magnificat
- •Palindromic spelling, top-100 for four decades
What does Hannah mean in the Bible?
Hannah means "Grace; Favor" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Hannah means "grace" or "favor" in Hebrew, and her story beautifully illustrates the meaning of her name. Hannah was a woman of deep faith who endured years of barrenness and the taunts of her husband's other wife, Peninnah.
Hannah's prayer at the tabernacle in Shiloh is one of the most moving passages in Scripture. She prayed with such intensity that the priest Eli initially thought she was drunk. When God answered her prayer and gave her a son, she named him Samuel and dedicated him to the Lord's service.
Hannah's song of praise (1 Samuel 2:1-10) anticipates many themes of Mary's Magnificat in Luke 1. Her faithfulness in keeping her vow — giving her long-awaited son to serve in the tabernacle — demonstrates extraordinary devotion to God.
Where does Hannah appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Hannah is connected to 1 key passage in the King James Bible, beginning with 1 Samuel 2:1. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD."
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What are the variants and nicknames of Hannah?
Hannah has 7 recorded variants, short forms, and translations across languages and biblical traditions.
Variants & related forms
Channah
Common nicknames
Hanna
Anna
Anne
Ann
Annie
Anya
Who was Hannah in the Bible?
Hannah is most closely associated with the Bible character of the same name. Their story is the reason the name carries the weight it does.
Read About Hannah in the BibleWhich books of the Bible mention Hannah?
Hannah is mentioned across 1 book of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Hannah?
Hannah's name — meaning 'grace' — reflects a life transformed by prayer. Her story teaches us that persistent, heartfelt prayer moves the hand of God and that our greatest gifts are meant to be offered back to Him.
Related Promises of God
Promises connected to the meaning of the name Hannah:
God Promises to Be Faithful
Bible promises about God's unwavering faithfulness in every situation.
God Promises Contentment Through Him
Bible promises about finding true satisfaction and contentment in God.
God Promises to Answer Prayer
Bible promises that God hears and answers the prayers of His people.
Related Reading
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Hebrews 13:8 — Meaning & Devotional
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Hebrews 4:16 — Meaning & Devotional
Grace
Commentary
Hebrews 4:16 Commentary
In-depth study • Prayer & Grace
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Hebrews 13:8 Commentary
In-depth study • The Unchanging Christ
Word Meaning
Faithfulness (אֱמוּנָה (emunah))
Steadfast reliability and trustworthiness — firm, unwavering loyalty.
Word Meaning
Grace (Chen) (חֵן (chen))
Favor, charm, and gracious acceptance — finding kindness in another's eyes.
What names are related to Hannah?
Names like Hannah
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "Grace; Favor" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Hannah
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Hannah
Download a printable name card with the KJV verse and meaning — perfect for Pinterest, Instagram, or a baptism keepsake.
Hannah name meaning: frequently asked questions
Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1–10 and Mary's Magnificat in Luke 1:46–55 share structure, imagery, and theology: both praise God for reversing human status, filling the hungry, and casting down the powerful. Luke almost certainly composed the Magnificat as a deliberate echo of Hannah, linking the birth of Samuel to the birth of Christ.
Yes — Hannah appears in the King James Bible, including 1 Samuel 2:1.
Hannah means "Grace; Favor." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in 1 Samuel 2:1, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Hannah
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Hannah?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Hannah?
You can read every verse where Hannah appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.