Gender: Masculine
Origin: South Slavic Вања
(VAHN-yah)

The name was originally a diminutive form of Ivan, but has been used as an independent given name since the beginning of the 20th-century. It is also used as a feminine name, more so in Scandinavia.

As of 2009, Vanja was the 91st most popular male name in Croatia.

In Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian, this is used strictly as a nickname for Ivan. 

Uncle Vanya is a famous Anton Chekhov play.