Born into the House of Savoy, she was the penultimate child and daughter of King Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia, and his wife, Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria-Este.

[citation needed] Their godparents were their maternal grandparents, Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este and his wife Maria Beatrice Ricciarda d'Este.

[citation needed] On 12 February 1831, Maria Anna was married by procuration in Turin to King Ferdinand V of Hungary, eldest son and heir apparent of Emperor Francis I of Austria.

On 27 February, the couple were married in person in Vienna in the Hofburg chapel by the cardinal archbishop of Olmütz.

She supported Emperor Ferdinand, who was unable to manage state affairs because of his health and was respected for her devotion.