Anna-Liisa

Anna-Liisa is a Finnish feminine compound given name, combining Anna and Liisa. Both elements are Finnish forms of the name Hannah, which appears in the Old Testament but is spelled Hanna in Finnish. The name originated in Finland and became particularly popular during the early 20th century.

Etymology

The first element, Anna, is a Latin and Greek form of Hannah, a biblical name meaning "favor" or "grace." In the New Testament, Anna is a prophetess who recognizes the infant Jesus as the Messiah (Luke 2:36–38). The second element, Liisa, is the Finnish variant of Elizabeth, which derives from the Hebrew name Elisheva, meaning "God is my oath."

Historical and Cultural Significance

Compound names like Anna-Liisa were common in Finland during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reflecting a cultural trend of pairing two traditionally popular names. According to Finnish naming data, Anna-Liisa reached a popularity peak in the 1930s and remains the most popular conjoined name in Finland. As of August 2025, it ranks as the 158th most common female given name, borne by about 4,392 women and used as a middle name by an additional 3,436 individuals.

Notable Bearers

• Anna-Liisa Hyvönen (born 1951), Finnish harpist and academic.
• Anna-Liisa Jokinen (born 1998), Finnish footballer who plays as a defender.
• Anna-Liisa Tilus (born 1953), Finnish writer and journalist.

Related Names

Variant forms include Annaliisa (merged spelling) and Anna-Liisa with hyphen. Similar compounds in Finnish include Marjo-Liisa and Sisko-Liisa.

Distribution

Anna-Liisa is predominantly found in Finland, with occasional usage in other Nordic countries. It is rarely used outside of Finland or in modern naming trends, reflecting its peak in the mid-20th century.

Key Facts

• Meaning: Grace of God (Anna) + God is my oath (Liisa)
• Origin: Finnish compound of biblical origin
• Type: Compound given name
• Usage: Finland only