UK boy's name
Anan
A masculine Arabic name meaning "cloud in the sky".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2006. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Anan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Anan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2006 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4052, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2000 to 2006. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Anan. 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 2007 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Anan ranked #4052 for boys in England and Wales in 2006, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 3 boys were registered as Anan.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4052
2006
Births in 2006
3
Latest year
Peak year
2000
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Anan mean?
The name Anan has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the word "inni" which means "verily" or "truly" in Arabic. The name is believed to have emerged around the 7th century CE during the rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula.
The earliest recorded use of the name Anan can be found in Islamic historical texts and records from the early Islamic era. One of the most notable figures with this name was Anan ben David, a prominent Jewish scholar and founder of the Karaite Jewish movement in the 8th century CE. He lived in Babylon and was known for rejecting the oral traditions of the Talmud and advocating for a strict adherence to the written Torah.
Another significant figure named Anan was Anan ibn al-Hakam, an Arab military leader and governor who lived in the 8th century CE. He played a crucial role in the Abbasid Revolution, which overthrew the Umayyad Caliphate and established the Abbasid Dynasty in 750 CE. Anan ibn al-Hakam was appointed as the governor of several provinces under the new Abbasid rulers.
In the realm of literature, Anan al-Shami was a renowned Arab poet and writer from the 10th century CE. He was born in Damascus and is known for his contributions to Arabic poetry and prose during the Abbasid era.
During the 12th century CE, Anan ben Marwan was a influential Jewish philosopher and scholar from Cordoba, Spain. He is recognized for his work in the field of Jewish philosophy and his commentary on the Torah.
In more recent history, Anan Ameri was an Iranian painter and calligrapher who lived from 1828 to 1904. He was renowned for his intricate calligraphic works and his contributions to the Persian art tradition.
These are just a few examples of notable figures throughout history who bore the name Anan, highlighting its diverse cultural and historical significance across various regions and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Anan over time
The chart below shows babies named Anan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2006. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Anan, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2006, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Anan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3544 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Anan
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Anan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Anan in the UK right now?
In 2006, Anan was ranked #4052 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Anan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 3 babies registered as Anan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Anan?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "cloud in the sky".
How many people are called Anan in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Anan across the 2 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.