UK boy's name
Anil
An Indian masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "deep blue" or "indestructible".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Anil is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Anil popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4001, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 33 births.
This profile covers 274 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. 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 12% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 271 living people in the UK are called Anil. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Anil ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 33 boys were registered as Anil.
- • About 271 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anil as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4001
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
1998
33 births
Estimated living
271
2026
Meaning
What does Anil mean?
Anil is a masculine given name that originated in India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "anila," which means "air" or "wind." The name has been in use since ancient times and is mentioned in various Hindu scriptures and texts.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Anil can be found in the Rigveda, one of the oldest Hindu scriptures dating back to around 1500-1000 BCE. In the Rigveda, Anil is mentioned as one of the names of the wind god, Vayu.
In Hindu mythology, Anil is also the name of one of the nine Navagrahās (celestial beings) and is associated with the planet Mars. The name is believed to bring strength, courage, and leadership qualities to those who bear it.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have been named Anil. One of the earliest recorded examples is Anil Bhatta, an Indian mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 8th century CE. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and wrote several treatises on the subject.
Another famous Anil in history was Anil Kumble, an Indian cricketer who played for the Indian national team from 1990 to 2008. He was a skilled leg-spinner and is considered one of the greatest bowlers in Indian cricket history. Anil Kumble was born in 1970 and retired from international cricket in 2008.
Anil Ambani, an Indian business tycoon and the chairman of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, is another prominent individual with the name Anil. He was born in 1959 and has been involved in various business ventures, including telecommunications, entertainment, and financial services.
In the field of literature, Anil Kamal Jaynawas was a renowned Hindi novelist and short story writer. He was born in 1925 and is known for his works that explored social issues and the lives of ordinary people in India.
Lastly, Anil Kapoor is a highly acclaimed Indian actor who has appeared in numerous Bollywood films and television shows. He was born in 1959 and is best known for his roles in films like "Mr. India," "Taal," and "Slumdog Millionaire," for which he received international recognition.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals named Anil throughout history, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and significance of this name in various fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Anil over time
The chart below shows babies named Anil registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Anil, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 33 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Anil by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anil 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 | #4001 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3409 | 43 | 8 |
| 2000s | #1691 | 122 | 10 |
| 1990s | #656 | 105 | 4 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Anil
-
Anil Bhoyrul
journalist
British journalist
2000-
-
Anil Gupta
screenwriter; businessperson; cinematographer
British writer
1974-
-
Anil Seth
university teacher; neuroscientist
British neuroscientist
1972-
-
Anil Murray
judge
British judge
1966-
-
Anil Hansjee
entrepreneur
Entrepreneur from the United Kingdom
Related
Names similar to Anil
- 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
Anil: questions and answers
How popular is the name Anil in the UK right now?
In 2022, Anil was ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Anil most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 33 babies registered as Anil in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Anil?
An Indian masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "deep blue" or "indestructible".
How many people are called Anil in the UK?
A total of 274 babies have been registered as Anil across the 23 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.