Hannah
Name Origin & Meaning
From 'chen' (grace, favor, charm). Hannah's silent prayer at the Tabernacle — mistaken for drunkenness by Eli — is the first example in Scripture of silent, interior prayer. Her song after Samuel's birth (1 Samuel 2) is the direct literary model for Mary's Magnificat.
First Biblical Appearance
“And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life.”
Hannah's vow of dedication — the prayer that changed Israel's history by birthing Samuel.
Biblical Significance
Hannah was one of Elkanah's two wives, barren for years while her rival Peninnah provoked her. In anguish she made a vow, and God opened her womb. She bore Samuel, dedicated him to the LORD, and sang a magnificent prayer anticipating the reversal of the proud and exaltation of the humble. She subsequently bore five more children and is the model of intercession.
Notable Bearers
- Hannah mother of Samuel
- Anna the prophetess (Luke 2:36)
Personality & Character
Divine unity and new beginnings — the number of God's oneness and leadership
Spiritual symbolism drawn from Scripture and tradition
Modern Variants
A Blessing for This Name
May you bring your bitterest barrenness to the Lord in prayer so fervent that onlookers misunderstand it. May God remember you and open what has long been closed, and may your song of thanksgiving become a prophetic anthem for your generation.