Wanja (first name)

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Vanya (also Vanya , Russian Ваня, Hebrew וניה) is a male and female given name , which also occurs as a family name . The prevalence is mainly in the East Slavic area. The name is particularly popular in Russia , where it originated as a variant of the name. At the same time, the name goes back to the era of the Babylonian exile, where it has a Persian origin.

In the Russian or East Slavic language area, Vanya is used as a pet form to Iwan exclusively as a male first name. In Bulgaria and other South Slavic countries, the name is common both as a male and female first name. In the Scandinavian area Vanja is given as a female first name. In Brazil, Wanja is common as a purely female first name.

Vanya is the most common pet form of the common Russian name Iwan, which in turn comes from the Greek name Ioannis ( Johannes ). To Ivan and Vanya are in Russian more diminutive forms such as:

  • Vanachka
  • Wanka
  • Vanyusha.

The first name Vanya is very common in rural areas of Russia . The hero of many Russian fairy tales is called that. In Russian literature, Anton Chekhov's uncle Vanya has achieved world renown.

In Portugal, the variant Vânia is used, in French, Italian and Spanish the transcription Vania is used .

meaning

The origin of the name Vanya is the Greek form Ἰωάννης (Iōannēs), which in turn is based on the Hebrew יוחנן (Jochanan). It means something like "God ( YHWH ) is gracious" / "God has shown grace". Thus, the name can be understood as an expression of a birth seen as a gift.

Vanya can also be found on an Aramaic papyrus from the 5th century BC. Here the name is probably of Persian origin and means "kind".

Well-known bearers of the first name

Bible

Men

in the spelling Vanya
in the notation Vanja

Women

in the spelling Vanya
in the notation Vanja
in the notation Vania
in the notation Vânia

Individual evidence

  1. http://www.archive.org/stream/aramaicpapyrioff00ahikuoft#page/68/mode/2up
  2. http://iksebk-host.de/print.php?sitemap=yes&function=wikimirror&wreq=Johannes
  3. http://www.archive.org/stream/aramaicpapyrioff00ahikuoft#page/68/mode/2up