Pollyanna was the heroine of the eponymous 1913 classic children's novel by Eleanor H. Porter. Because of her optimistic outlook on life, "Pollyanna" has become a slang term for an optimistic person, often used sarcastically directed towards those who seem to be blinded by optimism or are too perky for their own good. The name itself is a blend of Polly (form of Mary) and Anna (see for more info).See Also: Polly, Anna