The root of “Hanna” is “Hannah.” It is Hebrew for “God has favored me.” The earliest use is in the Bible. She prayed to God for a son, and in exchange she promised that her son, the prophet Samuel (for whom two books of the Bible are named), would be given back to God in the service of the Shiloh priests.
Notable Hannas include Hanna Newcombe, a Canadian peace activist; Hanna Reitsch, a Nazi propaganda icon who was the only woman awarded the German Iron Cross First Class and the Luftwaffe Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold with Diamonds during World War II; and Hanna Pakarinen, a pop singer who was the first winner of Finland’s Idols singing competition.
Also, Hanna is not a boy’s name.
That’s the controversial, hetero-normative statement proposed in the title of Tessa Stone’s comic, Hanna Is Not A Boy’s Name. With a title like that, you’re probably expecting an introspective webcomic exploring gender stereotypes. Perhaps it will delve into someone’s painful experiences growing up, taunted by bullies because of his name and gaining the strength to carry on like that boy named Sue.
And you’d be wrong. Hanna Is Not A Boy’s Name is actually about a zombie. And a werewolf. And a vampire. Actually, vampires. And some sort of supernatural detective agency. But I seriously can’t blame you if the title blindsided you.
