NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Anaiyah

A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly related to the Arabic name Anaya.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Anaiyah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Anaiyah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1672, with 18 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 33 births.

This profile covers 296 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2007 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 55% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 295 living people in the UK are called Anaiyah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Anaiyah ranked #1672 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 18 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2017, when 33 girls were registered as Anaiyah.
  • About 295 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anaiyah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1672

2024

Births in 2024

18

Latest year

Peak year

2017

33 births

Estimated living

295

2026

Meaning

What does Anaiyah mean?

The name Anaiyah is a relatively modern given name that has gained popularity in recent decades. It is believed to have originated as a variation or combination of the Hebrew name Anaiah, meaning "Yahweh has answered," and the Arabic name Nayla, meaning "successful" or "attaining her goals."

While the exact origins and earliest recorded use of Anaiyah are unclear, it is thought to have emerged as a feminine name in English-speaking countries during the late 20th century. The name's popularity may have been influenced by the increasing embrace of multicultural and unconventional names, as well as a desire for unique and aesthetically pleasing names.

Despite its modern roots, some historical records suggest that variations of the name may have existed in earlier times. For instance, the name Anaya was recorded in the 16th century in Spain, and it may have been derived from the Basque word "anai," meaning "sister" or "female relative."

Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals who bore the name Anaiyah or its variations. One example is Anaya Mukherjee, an Indian actress and model born in 1990, who has appeared in several Bollywood films and television shows. Another is Anaiah Blanchard, an American college student who tragically went missing in 2019 and whose disappearance garnered national attention.

While not as commonly found in historical records, a few other individuals with the name Anaiyah or similar variations can be mentioned. These include Anaiah Rucker, an American reality television personality and singer born in 1995, and Anaiah Robles, a Mexican-American actress and model born in 1996.

It is worth noting that while the name Anaiyah has gained popularity in recent decades, its historical roots and significance remain somewhat obscure. As with many modern names, it represents a blend of cultural influences and a desire for unique and meaningful monikers in an increasingly globalized world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Anaiyah over time

The chart below shows babies named Anaiyah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Anaiyah, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 18 births in 2024, compared with 33 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Anaiyah
08172533200720152024

Decades

Anaiyah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anaiyah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #1601 95 5
2010s #1777 180 10
2000s #3297 21 3

Related

Names similar to Anaiyah

FAQ

Anaiyah: questions and answers

How popular is the name Anaiyah in the UK right now?

In 2024, Anaiyah was ranked #1672 for girls in England and Wales, with 18 births registered.

When was Anaiyah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2017, with 33 babies registered as Anaiyah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Anaiyah?

A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly related to the Arabic name Anaya.

How many people are called Anaiyah in the UK?

A total of 296 babies have been registered as Anaiyah across the 18 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.