Zavanna is a variant of Savannah. Savannah originates in Spanish language and means "grassland without trees". As a grassland ecosystem, savannah refers to land with grass and scattered trees or an open canopy of trees. Current popularity of the name is probably influenced by the name of the city of Savannah in Georgia, rather than the grassland. Savannah is also the name of a cat breed, as well as the name of a TV soap opera.