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Anja as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Anja

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The baby name Anja is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced AHN-yah (IPA: /ˈanja/; English approximation: /ˈæn.jə/).

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Pronunciation: AHN-yah (IPA: /ˈanja/; English approximation: /ˈæn.jə/)

What is the meaning of the name Anja ?

The baby name Anja is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced AHN-yah (IPA: /ˈanja/; English approximation: /ˈæn.jə/).

Anja is in Origin.

Anja is a pan-European diminutive of Anna, ultimately from the Hebrew Channah, meaning “grace” or “favor.” The j reflects the y sound in languages that use the Latin alphabet for Slavic and Germanic phonetics, so Anja aligns with the Russian name Anya (Аня) while being standard in German, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Slovene, Croatian, and Serbian use.

Veneration of Saint Anne carried the name across Christian Europe, and the affectionate form Anja became widely established. It rose strongly in the mid-to-late 20th century in places like Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and the former Yugoslavia, and today feels classic yet crisp. Variants and cognates include Anya (English/Russian), Ania (Polish), Anna, Anne, and Ana; related diminutives such as Ani are common. Many countries celebrate its name day on July 26.

Anja has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Anja

Anja Pärson Athlete · Born 1981 · Sweden Anja Pärson is a Swedish athlete best known for her achievements in alpine skiing. She won multiple Olympic medals, including a gold in the slalom at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Her career also includes several World Championship titles, making her one of the most successful female skiers of her time. Anja Nissen Actor · Born 1995 · Australia Anja Nissen is an Australian singer and actress who gained fame by winning The Voice Australia in 2014. She is known for her powerful vocal performances and has released songs like 'Triumph' and 'Anyone Who Had a Heart.' Anja has also represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest. Anja Kling Actor · Born 1970 · Germany Anja Kling is a German actress best known for her role in the film 'Good Bye Lenin!'. She has also appeared in 'The Final Days' and the TV series 'Hindenburg'. Born in 1970, she has been a prominent figure in the German film and television industry.
Anja Garbarek Musician · Born 1970 · Norway Anja Garbarek is a Norwegian musician known for her unique blend of electronic and jazz influences. She gained recognition with albums like 'Balloon Mood' and 'Briefly Shaking'. Her music often features a haunting, ethereal quality that sets her apart in the music scene. Anja Silja Musician · Born 1935 · Germany Anja Silja is a German opera singer best known for her powerful soprano voice and her performances in Wagnerian roles. She gained fame for her portrayal of Salome in Richard Strauss's opera and has also been celebrated for her roles in Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde' and 'Der Ring des Nibelungen'. Born in 1935, she has had a long and distinguished career in the world of opera.

Celebrity babies named Anja

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Anja Louise Ambrosio Mazur Alessandra Ambrosio model ★★★★★

Anja – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Germany Girls 2023 #1 — 420
SI 0 #3 177 1,612
SI Girls 0 #5 605 2,769
Germany Girls 0 #7 19,522 4,949
NL Girls 0 #16 8,933 5,933
BW 0 #19 1 960
Germany 0 #21 1,594 2,542
RS Girls 0 #28 296 1,651
NA 0 #31 3 2,537
Finland Girls 2026 #33 16,323 3,895
EE 0 #37 1 1,051
DK Girls 0 #42 1,002 7,429
MT 0 #42 2 1,767
Austria Girls 2015 #51 136 60
MO 0 #52 1 2,706
RS 0 #54 35 923
AL 0 #60 16 2,372
LU 0 #60 7 2,830
NL 0 #69 525 2,481
DK 0 #70 192 5,198
HR Girls 0 #71 743 3,687
HR 0 #72 153 2,081
Austria Girls 0 #78 1,149 1,885
Finland Girls 0 #91 1,350 1,368
KZ 0 #94 1 1,452
Austria 0 #96 147 850
TW 0 #102 2 4,523
Switzerland Girls 2024 #106 30 1,786
PH 0 #109 2 5,607
AL Girls 0 #113 129 4,141
BN Girls 0 #113 2 5,459
Norway Girls 2025 #115 12 453
OM 0 #120 2 6,215
KW 0 #121 1 5,216
CY Girls 0 #124 2 3,755
EE Girls 0 #126 13 1,888
BN Boys 0 #139 1 6,332
MT Girls 0 #149 5 3,773
RS Boys 0 #152 3 2,277
LU Girls 0 #156 30 4,850
CR 0 #164 2 5,526
Sweden Girls 2022 #168 12 1,568
MT Boys 0 #179 1 4,064
CZ 0 #183 4 3,154
AE 0 #185 3 10,220
NA Girls 0 #192 33 7,146
RU 0 #192 3 3,641
Finland 0 #197 121 830
PL 0 #200 13 2,600
SI Boys 0 #210 2 3,402
AO Girls 0 #217 1 4,575
GR Girls 0 #224 19 6,293
HU Girls 0 #224 2 3,308
PS 0 #226 1 5,692
IR 0 #229 3 4,221
PL Girls 0 #236 132 5,096
JP Girls 0 #246 6 6,592
PT 0 #250 1 4,161
NA Boys 0 #253 1 6,830
TW Boys 0 #256 1 7,111
HR Boys 0 #257 3 3,997
MO Girls 0 #263 1 7,056
JM Girls 0 #277 2 7,507
Canada Girls 2024 #278 8 2,795
SG 0 #278 5 11,010
IL 0 #281 2 6,291
CZ Girls 0 #283 60 5,378
TW Girls 0 #287 3 8,139
JM Boys 0 #292 2 6,876
AL Boys 0 #295 9 5,122
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
CZ Boys 0 #304 2 6,530
KZ Girls 0 #328 5 5,862
PE 0 #329 1 6,350
DK Boys 0 #330 3 7,401
CN Boys 0 #331 1 9,639
QA Girls 0 #338 6 15,378
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
ZA 0 #351 97 14,421
CN Girls 0 #353 7 8,829
HK 0 #354 4 8,483
MY 0 #354 1 12,352
MU Girls 0 #356 7 8,539
France Girls 2021 #397 9 3,185
BD Girls 0 #403 4 8,413
PH Boys 0 #408 1 11,440
EG 0 #409 4 6,387
RU Girls 0 #413 86 11,913
OM Girls 0 #419 6 15,987
PH Girls 0 #424 6 13,098
CL 0 #433 2 6,867
Spain 0 #437 16 2,326
PT Girls 0 #439 13 7,952
MX 0 #444 2 8,339
SD Boys 0 #462 5 10,523
IR Girls 0 #463 68 8,334
KW Girls 0 #506 10 19,177
CO 0 #509 2 7,768
PA Girls 0 #518 1 9,861
CR Girls 0 #520 13 11,342
IQ Girls 0 #524 2 11,303
RU Boys 0 #524 3 12,621
UY Girls 0 #536 1 6,731
AE Girls 0 #537 17 20,968
GT Girls 0 #538 4 7,500
PS Girls 0 #545 3 10,981
CM Girls 0 #554 7 11,671
LY 0 #558 2 12,703
PS Boys 0 #561 1 10,655
IR Boys 0 #565 1 10,162
CM Boys 0 #568 8 12,054
SG Girls 0 #571 16 18,916
BH 0 #584 4 17,937
IL Girls 0 #608 10 11,648
IL Boys 0 #625 1 10,983
AR Girls 0 #630 1 8,289
IT 0 #637 78 4,183
HK Girls 0 #645 6 16,104
IN Girls 0 #649 6 13,121
BO Girls 0 #651 1 9,488
ZA Girls 0 #665 579 25,928
IQ Boys 0 #696 2 13,071
CL Boys 0 #700 1 13,390
SG Boys 0 #738 2 17,960
QA Boys 0 #741 3 18,093
TN 0 #748 82 13,765
SY 0 #766 2 11,684
KW Boys 0 #799 8 18,755
NG Girls 0 #822 5 15,093
CL Girls 0 #841 11 14,098
United States Girls 2024 #869 48 8,487
Spain Girls 0 #910 74 5,561
OM Boys 0 #910 9 17,948
MY Girls 0 #913 82 24,821
NL Boys 0 #918 34 5,873
Germany Boys 0 #921 32 5,697
EG Boys 0 #922 4 15,035
BR Girls 0 #928 14 12,708
IT Girls 0 #933 560 9,415
PE Girls 0 #934 10 14,861
EG Girls 0 #943 17 14,742
CO Boys 0 #980 2 15,656
NG Boys 0 #995 7 16,906
SA Girls 0 #1,006 9 25,931
IN Boys 0 #1,031 9 16,750
MY Boys 0 #1,089 23 25,439
MA 0 #1,118 11 20,986
AE Boys 0 #1,137 7 22,615
CO Girls 0 #1,150 3 16,140
TR 0 #1,192 20 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,261 7 17,781
ZA Boys 0 #1,270 3 25,619
SA Boys 0 #1,588 27 28,008

Anja is popular in 75 countries — most recent births per country:

Norway
France
Canada
Austria
Switzerland

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Anja

Anja is predominantly a girl's name.
Anja is a 2 syllable name, pronounced AHN-yah (IPA: /ˈanja/; English approximation: /ˈæn.jə/).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Anya, Ania, Anka and Anke.
Yes, very popular — Anja ranked #1 in Germany in 2023, and appears in official birth registries across 11 countries.
Anja ranks highest in Germany (#1 in 2023).
Anja's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #115 in 2015 to #115 in 2025 in Norway.
Yes — 5 notable people named Anja are in our database, including Anja Pärson (Athlete), Anja Nissen (Actor), Anja Kling (Actor).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Anja for their child, including Alessandra Ambrosio.