Sanna is a Scandinavian short form of Susanna, ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Shoshanna meaning "lily" (or "rose" in modern Hebrew), which itself comes from the Egyptian word sšn meaning "lotus". It is also associated with the Swedish word sann meaning "true", giving it a secondary connotation of veracity. Etymology The name Susanna appears in both the Old Testament Apocrypha, as the woman falsely accused of adultery and saved by Daniel, and the New Testament, as a woman who ministered to Jesus. The Hebrew root shoshan ("lily") begins a chain of floral meaning that extends through Greek and Latin into many European languages. The shortened form Sanna became common in Scandinavia, while its diminutive variant Sanni (from Sanni) is also Finnish. Notable Bearers Many notable women carry the name Sanna, especially in Sweden and Finland. These include athletes such as Swedish hurdler Sanna Kallur (born 1981), famous for her sprinting achievements; Finnish discus thrower Sanna Kämäräinen (born 1986); Norwegian biathlete Sanna Grønlid (born 1959); and footballers like Sanna Frostevall (born 1979). In politics, Sanna Kannasto (1878–1968) was a Finnish-Canadian feminist and politician. Others include Swedish actresses and models such as Sanna Bråding and Sanna Jinnedal. Cultural Significance While primarily a female given name in Finnish and Swedish culture, Sanna also occurs as a Sardinian surname (source: Wikipedia). Its popularity in Scandinavia is tied to the enduring appeal of the biblical Susanna story, as well as the modern simplicity of the short form. The name embodies floral beauty (from its Hebrew root) and truth (from Swedish sann), making it both beautiful and virtuous-sounding. Related Names Besides the Finnish diminutive Sanni, Sanna has many linguistic cousins: Slovene Suzana, Arabic Sawsan, Armenian Shushan and Shushanik, Ukrainian and Russian Susanna and Syuzanna. These all share the core Susanna/Shoshanna lineage. Meaning: Lily (Hebrew), true (Swedish) Origin: Scandinavian short form of Susanna Type: Female given name; also occasional surname Usage Regions: Finland, Sweden, Scandinavia