NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Anesa

A feminine given name of Arabic origin meaning "gentle", "friendly", or "companion".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Anesa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Anesa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3961, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 5 births.

This profile covers 50 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1996 to 2021. 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 50 living people in the UK are called Anesa. 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 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Anesa ranked #3961 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2009, when 5 girls were registered as Anesa.
  • About 50 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anesa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3961

2021

Births in 2021

5

Latest year

Peak year

2009

5 births

Estimated living

50

2026

Meaning

What does Anesa mean?

The name Anesa has its origins in the Greek language and culture. It is derived from the Greek word "anesis," which means "relief" or "relaxation." This suggests that the name may have been given to children with the hope that they would bring a sense of ease and tranquility to their families.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Anesa can be traced back to the Byzantine Empire in the 5th century AD. Historical records mention an Anesa who was a noblewoman and a close confidante of the Empress Theodora, wife of Emperor Justinian I.

In the 12th century, an Anesa de Courtenay was a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Jerusalem during the Crusades. She was the daughter of Joscelin III, Count of Edessa, and was known for her piety and charitable works.

During the Renaissance period, Anesa Gaetani was an Italian noblewoman and patron of the arts. Born in 1462 in Naples, she was a great supporter of the humanist movement and hosted many scholars and artists in her court.

In the 19th century, Anesa Petrović was a Serbian writer and educator. Born in 1845 in Belgrade, she was one of the first women in Serbia to receive a formal education and became a pioneering figure in the promotion of women's rights and education.

Another notable Anesa in history was Anesa Mihajlović, a Serbian military officer who fought in the Balkan Wars and World War I. Born in 1892, she was one of the first women to attain the rank of captain in the Serbian army and was decorated for her bravery and service.

While the name Anesa has its roots in the Greek language, it has been adopted and used in various cultures throughout history, particularly in the Mediterranean region and parts of Eastern Europe. The name has carried with it the connotations of relief, peace, and tranquility, reflecting the hopes and aspirations of parents for their children.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Anesa over time

The chart below shows babies named Anesa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Anesa, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2021, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Anesa
01345199620082021

Decades

Anesa by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anesa 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 #3961 5 1
2010s #5511 13 4
2000s #4070 26 7
1990s #3810 6 2

Related

Names similar to Anesa

FAQ

Anesa: questions and answers

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

In 2021, Anesa was ranked #3961 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Anesa most popular?

The peak year on record was 2009, with 5 babies registered as Anesa in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Anesa?

A feminine given name of Arabic origin meaning "gentle", "friendly", or "companion".

How many people are called Anesa in the UK?

A total of 50 babies have been registered as Anesa across the 14 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.