Meaning & Story
A Russian form of Ivan, which is itself the Russian form of John — from the Hebrew 'Yochanan' meaning 'God is gracious' — with a warm, Slavic quality.
Vanya is the warm, diminutive form of Ivan in Russian culture — the kind of name that suggests a certain Chekhov-esque depth and a capacity for both great joy and great sadness. For a sensitive, expressive dog who feels everything with particular intensity and communicates it clearly, Vanya has exactly the right emotional range.