Anel

Primarily a girl's name with 1,869 recorded births. Also given to 264 boys.

Girl's nameAlso boy's#11148 in 2024Declining

Meaning & Origin

a male given name

Anel is a girl's and boy's baby name of Kazakh origin meaning 'clear sky,' 'bright,' or 'my soul.' It is one of the most popular girls' names in Kazakhstan, carrying the vast, open beauty of the Central Asian steppe skyline in its simple two syllables.

With nearly 1,900 births in U.S. records, Anel has a genuine American presence — primarily used in Latin American and Eastern European immigrant communities where it carries different but equally beautiful associations.

EtymologyShow more

Phonetically, Anel belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their sharp, distinct ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.

Sound-alike names often cluster in style even when they come from different linguistic roots. The Similar Names section below uses letter and phonetic patterns to surface names in Anel’s sonic neighborhood.

At a Glance

1,869

Total births

Since 1971

1991

Peak

76 births

1971

First recorded

54 years of data

Compare Anel with another name

Popularity Over Time

Anel was #3076 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #11148, but its charm endures.

First appeared: 1971Peak: 1991 (76 births)Current: #11148

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Anel
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	55	#9389	▼
2010s	156	#7762	▼
2000s	450	#3404	▼
1990s	518	#2547	▲
1980s	342	#2812	—
1970s	348	#2432	—

The Story of Anel

A Millennial name

Peaking in 1991, Anel is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Anel are most likely born between 1981 and 2001.

How rare is Anel?

Only about 1 in every 450,000 babies born in 2024 was named Anel — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1971, peaked in the 1990s with 518 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Anel by the numbers

Would fill 39 school buses
Meeting one Anel per day would take 5.1 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(54 years, 1971–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Anel
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	8	#11148	-4 (-33.3%)
2023	12	#8511	+1 (9.1%)
2022	11	#9109	+3 (37.5%)
2021	8	#11224	-8 (-50.0%)
2020	16	#6952	-2 (-11.1%)
2019	18	#6437	+3 (20.0%)
2018	15	#7433	0
2017	15	#7479	+2 (15.4%)
2016	13	#8442	-2 (-13.3%)
2015	15	#7652	-9 (-37.5%)
2014	24	#5483	+5 (26.3%)
2013	19	#6485	+9 (90.0%)
2012	10	#10512	0
2011	10	#10448	-7 (-41.2%)
2010	17	#7245	-23 (-57.5%)
2009	40	#3878	+3 (8.1%)
2008	37	#4186	-20 (-35.1%)
2007	57	#3055	+14 (32.6%)
2006	43	#3621	+4 (10.3%)
2005	39	#3741	-11 (-22.0%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Anel as a Boy's Name

Though more common for girls, Anel has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 264 births since 1981.

Unranked

Current rank

264

Total births

2003

Peak year

Compare Anel as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Anel a boy's or girl's name?

Anel is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 264 recorded births.

When was Anel most popular?

Anel reached its peak popularity in 1991 with 76 births that year. It is currently ranked #11148 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Anel?

Anel is currently ranked #11148 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 1,869 babies since 1971.

Can Anel be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Anel is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #11148. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Explore More

By Length4-letter names By EndingNames in -l TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1971–2024