Pollyanna as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Pollyanna

What is the meaning of the name Pollyanna ?

The baby name Pollyanna is a Female name , 4 syllables long and is pronounced IPA: /ˌpɒliˈænə/ (UK), /ˌpɑːliˈænə/ (US); respelling: POL-ee-AN-uh.

Pollyanna is English in Origin.

Pollyanna is an English compound given name formed from Polly, the medieval diminutive of Mary (from Hebrew Miryam), and Anna, from Hebrew Channah. As a blend, it inherits meanings often ascribed to its elements: Mary is interpreted as “beloved,” “wished-for child,” or “sea,” while Anna means “grace” or “favor.” Together, Pollyanna is commonly read as “beloved by grace” or “graceful one.”

The name saw little formal use until Eleanor H. Porter’s 1913 novel Pollyanna propelled it into English-speaking awareness, followed by stage versions and Disney’s 1960 film. While the term “Pollyanna” came to denote sunnily optimistic outlooks, the given name continues to appear in Britain and North America, sometimes as the hyphenated Polly-Anna. Variants and international forms include Polly-Anna/Polly-Anne, Polly Ann/Polly Anne, Polyanna/Pollyana, and Portuguese Poliana/Pollyana. Short forms include Polly, Anna, Annie, and Polly-Ann. Related names include Mary, Molly, Anne/Anna, and Marianne.