UK girl's name
Anica
A feminine name meaning "grace" or "favor" in Sanskrit.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Anica is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Anica popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5493, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 5 births.
This profile covers 23 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2000 to 2020. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 23 living people in the UK are called Anica. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Anica ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 5 girls were registered as Anica.
- • About 23 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anica as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5493
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2004
5 births
Estimated living
23
2026
Meaning
What does Anica mean?
The name Anica is of Slavic origin, derived from the diminutive form of the name Anna or Ana. It is particularly popular in countries like Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia, where it has been used for centuries.
Anica is believed to have its roots in the Greek name Anna, which comes from the Hebrew name Hannah, meaning "grace" or "favor." The name gained widespread popularity after the rise of Christianity and the veneration of St. Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary.
In ancient times, the name Anica appeared in various forms across different Slavic languages, such as Anica, Anitsa, and Anicza. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in medieval church records and historical documents from the region.
One of the earliest known historical figures bearing the name Anica was Anica Černojevića (1498-1522), a Serbo-Croatian noblewoman and writer from the Renaissance period. She is renowned for her poetry and her influence on the development of Serbo-Croatian literature.
Another notable Anica was Anica Savić-Rebac (1892-1953), a Croatian sculptor and academic who played a significant role in the development of modern Croatian sculpture. Her works are displayed in numerous museums and public spaces throughout Croatia.
In the realm of music, Anica Zubović (1923-2019) was a renowned Serbian classical pianist and pedagogue. She performed extensively throughout Europe and received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the field of music.
Anica Dobra (1953-2022) was a Slovenian writer and journalist who authored several novels and short story collections. Her works often explored themes of identity, family, and the complexities of human relationships.
Anica Milosavljević (born 1982) is a contemporary Serbian actress and model who has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and theater productions. She is considered one of the most prominent actresses of her generation in Serbia.
While the name Anica has its roots in the Slavic regions, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly among those with Slavic heritage or connections. However, its rich historical significance and cultural associations remain deeply rooted in the Slavic lands.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Anica over time
The chart below shows babies named Anica registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Anica, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Anica by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anica 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 | #5493 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4739 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3951 | 16 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Anica
- 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
Anica: questions and answers
How popular is the name Anica in the UK right now?
In 2020, Anica was ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Anica most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 5 babies registered as Anica in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Anica?
A feminine name meaning "grace" or "favor" in Sanskrit.
How many people are called Anica in the UK?
A total of 23 babies have been registered as Anica across the 6 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.