NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Anella

A feminine name of Italian origin meaning "little ring" or "little ring-shaped pastry".

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.

Anella is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Anella popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 6 births.

This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2021 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 67% 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 Anella. 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

  • Anella ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 6 girls were registered as Anella.
  • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anella as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4843

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2021

6 births

Estimated living

10

2026

Meaning

What does Anella mean?

The name Anella is believed to have originated from the Latin language and can be traced back to the Roman era. It is derived from the Latin word "anellus," which means "little ring" or "small circle." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals with a circular birthmark or other distinctive physical feature.

In ancient Roman culture, names often carried symbolic meanings or were inspired by natural elements, occupations, or personal characteristics. The name Anella could have been used to describe someone with a delicate, graceful, or cyclical nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Anella can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Livy, who lived from 59 BC to 17 AD. He mentioned an "Anella" in his historical accounts, though details about this individual are scarce.

During the Middle Ages, the name Anella gained popularity in certain regions of Italy and Spain, where it was influenced by the Romance languages. It was sometimes spelled as "Anela" or "Anelle" in different areas.

Notable historical figures with the name Anella include:

1. Anella de Trastámara (c. 1355 - 1418), a Spanish noblewoman and member of the House of Trastámara, a powerful dynasty that ruled in various parts of the Iberian Peninsula.

2. Anella Venier (c. 1450 - 1509), a Venetian noblewoman and patron of the arts, known for her support of Renaissance painters and sculptors.

3. Anella Grimaldi (c. 1520 - 1572), a member of the Grimaldi family, the ruling house of Monaco, and a prominent figure in the political and social circles of her time.

4. Anella Castiglione (c. 1610 - 1668), an Italian painter and one of the few women artists of the Baroque period to achieve significant recognition during her lifetime.

5. Anella Bussotti (1887 - 1968), an Italian operatic soprano who performed in various opera houses throughout Europe in the early 20th century.

While the name Anella has remained relatively uncommon in most parts of the world, it continues to hold a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in regions with Latin and Romance language influences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Anella over time

The chart below shows babies named Anella registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2021 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 Anella, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Anella
02356202120222024

Decades

Anella by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anella 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 #4181 10 2

Related

Names similar to Anella

FAQ

Anella: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Anella was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Anella most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 6 babies registered as Anella in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Anella?

A feminine name of Italian origin meaning "little ring" or "little ring-shaped pastry".

How many people are called Anella in the UK?

A total of 10 babies have been registered as Anella 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.