ハンナ
Your name
Hannah
in Japanese
The default way to write Hannah in Japanese is ハンナ — a phonetic katakana spelling that captures the sound and signals, instantly to a Japanese reader, that the name comes from elsewhere. But katakana is only one of three answers Japanese gives to a foreign name.
Below, we show all three. First the official katakana. Then a set of meaning kanji chosen to express what Hannah actually means at the root — Hebrew origin (חַנָּה, Ḥannāh) meaning 'grace,' 'favor,' or 'God has favored. Finally a set of ateji, the playful tradition where the kanji match the sound and tell their own small story underneath.
Katakana — Phonetic
How Hannah is most commonly written in Japanese — used on official documents, business cards, and signage.
Meaning Kanji — Etymology
"Hannah" means: Hebrew origin (חַנָּה, Ḥannāh) meaning 'grace,' 'favor,' or 'God has favored.' Associated with kindness, mercy, and divine blessing.
恵奈
Ena
恵 (kei/megumi) = blessing, grace, favor — directly mirrors the Hebrew meaning. 奈 (na) = a classical phonetic kanji used in feminine names, evoking the apple/Nara region with a soft elegance.
慈愛
Jiai
Together: 'merciful love,' a graceful expression of the name's spiritual warmth.
恩寧
Onnei
Together: 'graceful peace,' suggesting a person blessed with calm dignity.
Ateji — Sound + Meaning
Where the sound matches and the kanji tell their own small story. The Edo scholars and modern manga authors both played this game.
範那
Hanna
A composed, leader-like image.
華菜
Hanna
Together: a cheerful, garden-fresh name full of life.
幻凪
Hanna
Together: 'phantom calm,' a poetic, otherworldly stillness.
Not sure which form to use?
Katakana, meaning kanji, and ateji each belong to a different part of Japanese life — official paperwork, calligraphy and gifts, signatures and wordplay. Our full guide walks through when to reach for each one.
Read the guide: the three ways to write your name in Japanese →
Seven, drawn