Sanna

Lily through Susanna; also “true” in a Swedish derivation

Sanna is used as a feminine name in Sweden and Finland. As a short form of Susanna, it inherits the connection to Hebrew Shoshanna and the meaning “lily”. A separate Swedish derivation connects it with sann, “true”. Finnish naming tradition also knows Sanna as a pet form of Alexandra. The history that matters for a particular Sanna can therefore depend on her family’s choice. Compared with Susanna, Sanna keeps the flowing S and the open ending in a more compact shape. It can feel gentle and informal without seeming unfinished. The Finnish pronunciation /ˈsɑn.nɑ/ has two syllables, stress on the first and a lengthened N between short vowels. That held consonant is a useful detail when learning the Finnish form: the double N belongs to its sound as well as its spelling.

Etymology: A Swedish and Finnish short form of Susanna, whose roots reach Hebrew Shoshanna, “lily”; Swedish sann, “true”, is another derivation.