what’s in a name?: anna karina

Jul 10—2026

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I’m always fascinated to learn about how actors get their stage names. It’s not just the creation of the name itself, but it’s also having to live your life as that name in the public eye. I imagine it’s almost like a form of spy training, where you have to Pavlov’s Bell yourself into responding to a new name. Then again, actors have a lot of experience playing different characters with different names, so it can’t be too much of a difference.

I was inspired to start this series after watching Vivre Sa Vie, the classic French New Wave film directed by Jean-Luc Godard. The film was great (I wasn’t head over heels for it, but I didn’t hate it either, and I still respected the artistry behind it) but if I’m going to be honest, the first thing I researched after finishing the film was how Anna Karina got her name. Maybe it’s the end rhymes, or the similarity to Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, but the name just felt so fitting for a French New Wave icon. There are some names that just sound iconic, and after doing some research, I think the way she got her name was iconic as well.

Anna Karina, originally born Hanne Karin Blarke Bayer, was on a set for a photoshoot for Elle, While she was getting her makeup done, a lady about 65 or 66 years old walked up to her with a beautiful big hat and a cigar and said, “Little girl, I heard you wanted to be an actress. What’s your name?” Karina told the lady that her name was Hanne Karin Bayer, and the lady said that she needed to change her name if she wanted to become an actress, and suggested the name Anna Karina.

Hanne Karin (han-neh kuh-rin) -> Anna Karina (Saying it out loud helped me make the connection.)

When the lady left, Anna Karina asked who the lady was, and the makeup artist told her that it was the French fashion pioneer, Coco Chanel.

Imagine what would’ve happened had she ignored Coco Chanel’s advice. Do you think she would’ve been as famous as she is? Do you think she would’ve kept her original name, or eventually chosen a different stage name?