Ani
Primarily a girl's name of Armenian origin with 3,125 recorded births. Also given to 5 boys.
Meaning & Origin
a ruined medieval Armenian city-site in the Turkish province of Kars near the border with Armenia.
Ani is a girl's and boy's baby name with roots across multiple cultures — in Armenian, it is the name of the medieval capital city and carries deep national pride; in Hawaiian, it means 'beautiful'; and as a diminutive of Ana or Anita, it carries the Hebrew meaning of 'grace.' Short, sweet, and universal.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Ani is a girl's name with several decades of recorded use (1958–2024). Its Armenian roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Today, Ani is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #2321), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Ani was #1686 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #2321, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 379 | #2383 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 797 | #2344 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 1,038 | #1872 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 485 | #2620 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 269 | #3317 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 116 | #5483 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 34 | #5023 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 7 | #4909 | — |
The Story of Ani
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2007, Ani is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Ani are most likely born between 1997 and 2017.
How rare is Ani?
Only about 1 in every 45,570 babies born in 2024 was named Ani — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1958, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2000s with 1,038 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Ani by the numbers
- Would fill 65 school buses
- Meeting one Ani per day would take 8.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(60 years, 1958–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 79 | #2321 |
| 2023 | 73 | #2443 |
| 2022 | 79 | #2345 |
| 2021 | 67 | #2587 |
| 2020 | 81 | #2219 |
| 2019 | 83 | #2215 |
| 2018 | 66 | #2612 |
| 2017 | 71 | #2511 |
| 2016 | 93 | #2092 |
| 2015 | 78 | #2353 |
| 2014 | 101 | #1968 |
| 2013 | 77 | #2365 |
| 2012 | 67 | #2658 |
| 2011 | 82 | #2275 |
| 2010 | 79 | #2386 |
| 2009 | 107 | #1949 |
| 2008 | 107 | #1966 |
| 2007 | 122 | #1761 |
| 2006 | 107 | #1894 |
| 2005 | 116 | #1707 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Ani as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Ani has also been given to 5 boys in the U.S. since 2007.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ani a boy's or girl's name?
When was Ani most popular?
How popular is the name Ani?
Can Ani be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1958–2024