Iwana
Fact sheet
- Name
- Iwana
- Gender
- Girl name
- Syllables
- 3
Iwana represents a Slavic and Russian variant of the name Ivana, which is itself a form of Johanna. Johanna is the feminine form of the biblical name Johannes, which has its origin in the ancient Greek Iōánnēs (Ἰωάννης).
What does the name Iwana mean?
The name Iwana is a Slavic and Russian derivation of Ivana, which is considered a variant of Johanna. Johanna, in turn, is the feminine form of the biblical Johannes, which has its origin in the ancient Greek Iōánnēs (Ἰωάννης). The name means 'God is gracious' and 'God is merciful'. Its roots lie in the ancient Hebrew Yôchânân or Yehochanan, which is composed of the elements yo (יֹו) or yeho (יְהוֹ) meaning 'the name of God' and ḥanán (חָנַן) meaning 'to be gracious', 'to be merciful', 'to pardon' or 'to have compassion'. Iwana has numerous variants in different languages. It belongs to one of the most extensive etymological roots, encompassing over five hundred variations in both male and female forms across different languages. Examples of other variants include Jana, Ivanka, Ivani, Ivanna, Ivanie, Iwanka, Yvanna, Yvana, Vania, and Vanja. The name became particularly well-known through Johannes the Baptist, and in the Middle Ages, it was one of the most popular names in the German-speaking region.
Where does the name Iwana come from?
The first name Iwana has its roots in ancient Hebrew and means 'God is gracious'. The components in ancient Hebrew are yo or yeho, meaning 'the name of God', and ḥanán, meaning 'to be gracious', 'to be merciful', 'to pardon' or 'to have compassion'. The associated languages are Dutch, Polish, Russian, and Slavic.
How do you pronounce Iwana?
The pronunciation of Iwana is three syllables and characterized by vowels. It is pronounced as 'I-wa-na' [iˈvaːna], with the open vowels gently flowing into each other. The middle syllable has a carrying sound. The soft W or V provides a gentle dynamic. Overall, Iwana sounds wide and melodic – friendly, open, and radiates a warm, balanced aura.
When is the name day of Iwana?
Iwana celebrates her name day on February 4, May 12, May 24, May 30, August 12, August 24, August 26, and December 12.
Popularity
In Germany, Iwana is a rare first name. In 2023, the name ranked 5,633rd among the most common female first names. Iwana achieved its best ranking in 2007 at 1,198th place. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 30 times, placing it 4,795th in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, Iwana ranks 5,234th.
Similar first names
Frequently asked questions about the name Iwana
What is the origin of the name Iwana?
The name Iwana has its roots in ancient Hebrew and derives from the Slavic and Russian derivation Ivana, which is a variant of Johanna.
What does the name Iwana mean?
Iwana means 'God is gracious' or 'God is merciful'. The components in ancient Hebrew are 'yo' or 'yeho' for 'the name of God' and 'ḥanán', which means 'to be gracious' or 'to have compassion'.
How common is the name Iwana?
Iwana has many variants in different languages and is part of one of the most extensive etymological roots with over five hundred variations, including names like Jana, Ivanka, and Vanja.