Anai
A girl's name with 2,298 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
a female given name
Anai is a girl's baby name of modern origin, used across multiple cultures including Latin American and West African naming traditions. In some contexts it is linked to the Nahuatl or indigenous Mexican naming heritage. Its crisp two-syllable sound — AH-nai — gives it an approachable, cross-cultural appeal.
EtymologyShow more
Anai's linguistic roots are not definitively traced to a single tradition. Names that emerged in late-twentieth-century America were often created by blending sounds, respelling existing names, or combining elements from multiple languages — a form of linguistic creativity that makes pinning down a single origin difficult.
What the data does show: Anai has 2,298 recorded U.S. births as a girl's name, with its open, approachable ending ending on a vowel softens the overall impression.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Anai was #1757 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #5613, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 158 | #4556 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 374 | #4303 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 1,148 | #1749 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 562 | #2415 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 56 | #7282 | — |
The Story of Anai
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2005, Anai is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Anai are most likely born between 1995 and 2015.
How rare is Anai?
Only about 1 in every 163,636 babies born in 2024 was named Anai — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1984, peaked in the 2000s with 1,148 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Anai by the numbers
- Would fill 48 school buses
- Meeting one Anai per day would take 6.3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(40 years, 1984–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 22 | #5613 |
| 2023 | 23 | #5398 |
| 2022 | 46 | #3421 |
| 2021 | 34 | #4170 |
| 2020 | 33 | #4179 |
| 2019 | 30 | #4553 |
| 2018 | 14 | #7792 |
| 2017 | 30 | #4586 |
| 2016 | 31 | #4539 |
| 2015 | 35 | #4151 |
| 2014 | 38 | #3930 |
| 2013 | 47 | #3368 |
| 2012 | 39 | #3921 |
| 2011 | 47 | #3411 |
| 2010 | 63 | #2782 |
| 2009 | 79 | #2426 |
| 2008 | 104 | #2007 |
| 2007 | 112 | #1868 |
| 2006 | 129 | #1639 |
| 2005 | 139 | #1500 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Anai a boy's or girl's name?
When was Anai most popular?
How popular is the name Anai?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1984–2024