Meaning and history
Anke is a Dutch, Low German, and Frisian feminine diminutive of Anna. Anna comes from Hebrew Ḥannah, meaning “grace” or “favour,” and gained lasting Jewish and Christian significance through biblical tradition, including Anna the prophetess in the Gospel of Luke. Anke is now commonly used as an independent name rather than only a pet form. Notable bearers include German tennis player Anke Huber and German actor and comedian Anke Engelke.