UK name, mostly girls
Ananda
A Sanskrit name meaning bliss, joy, or happiness.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 6 boys.
Ananda is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Ananda popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5707, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1999 to 2010. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Ananda. 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 2011 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ananda ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales in 2010, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 4 girls were registered as Ananda.
- • Ananda is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ananda as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 62.5% of Ananda registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5707
2010
Births in 2010
3
Latest year
Peak year
1999
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Ananda
In England and Wales birth records, Ananda has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 37.5% of registrations are for boys and 62.5% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Ananda registered for boys
- Ranked #4,632 in 2014
- 3 boys registered in 2014
- Peak: 1998 (3 births)
Ananda registered for girls
- Ranked #5,707 in 2010
- 3 girls registered in 2010
- Peak: 1999 (4 births)
Meaning
What does Ananda mean?
The name Ananda is of Sanskrit origin, tracing its roots back to ancient India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "ānanda," which means bliss, joy, or delight. The name gained significant prominence within the Buddhist tradition, where it is associated with spiritual happiness and inner peace.
One of the earliest and most notable references to the name Ananda can be found in Buddhist scriptures, where it was borne by Ananda, a cousin and devoted attendant of Gautama Buddha. Born in the 6th century BCE, Ananda played a crucial role in preserving and transmitting the teachings of the Buddha, earning him the epithet "the Guardian of the Dharma."
Throughout history, the name Ananda has been carried by various individuals of spiritual and literary significance. One such figure was Anandavardhana (circa 820-890 CE), an influential Sanskrit poet and literary theorist who made seminal contributions to the field of poetics with his work Dhvanyaloka.
In the realm of modern literature, Ananda Coomaraswamy (1877-1947), a renowned philosopher and metaphysician, was a prominent figure who helped introduce Indian art and philosophy to the West. His writings on topics such as traditional arts, crafts, and symbolism have had a lasting impact.
Another notable bearer of the name was Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy (1877-1947), a pioneering scholar and advocate of Indian art and culture. His extensive research and writings on topics ranging from iconography to traditional craftsmanship played a significant role in preserving and promoting the rich heritage of South Asian arts and traditions.
Ananda Mahidol (1925-1946), also known as Rama VIII, was a beloved king of Thailand who ascended to the throne at a young age. Although his reign was brief, he is remembered for his commitment to democracy, education, and the well-being of his people.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Ananda throughout history, each contributing to various fields and leaving an indelible mark on their respective domains.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ananda over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Ananda in England and Wales, from 1998 to 2014. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ananda, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2010, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ananda by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ananda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5707 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3998 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3225 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Ananda
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Ananda: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ananda in the UK right now?
In 2010, Ananda was ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Ananda most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 4 babies registered as Ananda in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ananda?
A Sanskrit name meaning bliss, joy, or happiness.
How many people are called Ananda in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Ananda across the 3 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.